Frank Michael Busuttil

Frank Michael Busuttil, 67, of Wayne, passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at home in the loving comfort of his family.

Frank was born to Paul Busuttil and Lina Kedrie (nee Meli) in Dearborn, Michigan. He moved to Queens, New York in 1966 and then to West New York, New Jersey in 1970. Frank graduated from Memorial High School and then attended Wildfred Academy Beauty School in West New York, earning his beautician license in 1975. Frank loved being a hairdresser; he never stopped attending classes to keep up with the latest trends in color and cutting. Frank had a loving and loyal clientele, many who followed his career from salon to salon and city to city. He had many clients, many for decades and then their children and often their grandchildren would become his clients. Frank often joked when a client would call him after hours with a “911 hair emergency”. He would never say no to a “hair house call”. Frank owned his own salon from 1999-2011 in Rutherford. He continued working at salons in Rutherford, most recently at Salon Valerie, until December 2022 when his illness made it impossible to continue working.

Frank’s other passion was deep-sea fishing. From his earliest days, Frank yearned to fish. His mother told stories of him as a toddler, barely old enough to speak, playing in the backyard with a stick and a string, pretending it was a fishing rod. Frank never tired of fishing. He would return from a 2-day fishing trip and immediately began planning the next. Montauk was Frank’s fishing paradise. When asked if he could live anywhere in the world, Frank would say “Montauk”. He began fishing in Montauk in the ‘70s, and it remained a fishing haven for him for the rest of his life. In the early 1990’s, Frank began giant tuna fishing. It was hard-core fishing that took him to Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. He would leave the hair salon for months at a time to tuna fish for the entire summer. It was grueling, strenuous work and he loved every moment. Frank would earn his Captain’s license in the ‘90s and was registered with the Coast Guard. Frank was happiest when he was fishing. In the dead of winter in the Northeast, Frank would book trips on party boats to catch his “Christmas cod”, coming home with his fishing poles covered with ice. He never had enough. Along the way, Frank gathered a close group of friends who were bonded by their mutual passion for fishing. The guys would spend each summer weekend together, headed out to Montauk in the pre-dawn hours to beat the traffic, armed with their elaborate array of specialty sandwiches and treats. Each man brought their special meal, a band of brothers who relished every moment together.

Frank met his wife, Grace, while working at Palumbo’s Hair Salon in North Arlington. A client for several years, the couple began dating in 1995 when Frank called with a dinner invitation. Frank and Grace married in 1998 and bought their first home in Wayne in 2000. After many years of failed attempts, the couple was overjoyed when they were blessed with twins (Frankie Jr. and Anna Grace) in 2011. Becoming a father later in life was a joy for Frank. His one role was driving the children to and from school and it was a thrill ride. The kids squealed when Frank rolled down the windows and turned up the rock and roll. He was funny, silly and over the top generous. His biggest parenting challenge was saying “no” to the children. They were the light of his life; everything they did made him proud. Clients would love to hear Frank’s stories about little Frankie’s soccer games and Anna’s spelling bee competitions. He was the family hair stylist and personal chef, who would never refuse a request for a special meal or treat. Frank was never hurried and would sit and for hours listen as the children talked about their favorite activity in school or their new toy wish list. His children knew him as patient and kind and nothing but pure fun. His jokes were old and not terribly funny, but Frankie and Anna knew they had the greatest Dad.

Frank loved to watch sports of all kinds. He enjoyed cooking shows, jotting down new recipes and techniques to keep the meals interesting. Frank loved to dance! Weddings were a thrill, and you could find Frank in the middle of the dance floor (often by himself), dancing freestyle for hours. Frank loved life and being with people. He was kind and patient and when he forgave, he forgot. Frank was a man of faith who clung to his Savior most tightly as his health deteriorated. He accepted trials with childlike faith, always professing his life was in God’s Hands. A member of Montclair Community Church for many years, Frank has a loving, extended Church family. Frank will be remembered as the kindest, gentlest and humble soul who always placed others' needs before his own. He touched many lives and will be deeply missed.

Frank is survived by his sister, JoAnne Busuttil Martocci and her husband Jim, his brother John Busuttil, his brother James Kedrie and his wife Jennifer. Frank is also survived by half-siblings Ernest Busuttil and his wife Marra, Paul Busuttil and his wife Claudia, Joe Busuttil and his wife Lisa and his sister Cathy Taylor, as well as many nieces, nephews and grandnieces.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Frank’s name to Trinity Christian School, 160 Changebridge Road, Montville, NJ 07045 at www.tcsnj.org