Angelo F. Falconi

Angelo F. Falconi, 91, a lifelong resident of the Washington County area, who took great pride in calling Southwestern Pennsylvania his home, passed away at the Donnell House in Washington, Pennsylvania on Friday November 6, 2015.

Upon receiving one of the many awards bestowed upon him during his lifetime, Angelo said, “I’m proud to acknowledge that my parents, Elena and Cesare, came to the United States, through Ellis Island, in 1923, from the small town of Valcadara  Italy.  I learned important lessons from my parents and my uncle, Dominick.  They brought with them from Italy a commitment to hard work and the recognition of the importance of family and community.  I have tried to apply the lessons I learned.”  His life’s journey took him across the country, around the world and he touched the lives of countless people.

Angelo F. Falconi was born in Lawrence, near Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, on February 19, 1924.  He was preceded in death by four sisters, his twin sister, Melinda Borrelli, Antonina Horwath, Elena Morascyzk and Rita Skittle.

During his youth, he attended school in Canonsburg and the Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Virginia but he was primarily self-taught.

Angelo embodied the true entrepreneurial spirit. He loved to make “deals.” He was a charismatic businessman who was willing to take risks when people suggested otherwise. This spirit first came to light when he and a childhood friend decided to start a business at the age of six by waxing a schoolteacher’s car.  Unfortunately for the schoolteacher, all that the industrious duo had available was axle grease.   Fortunately, Angelo’s father came to his rescue and the entrepreneurial fire had been ignited. He never let adversity hold him back. 

In 1937, as a teenager, he started his first used car dealership in Canonsburg. His love affair with the automobile industry began. In the early 1940’s, Angelo became one of the youngest Ford dealers in the United States.

Shortly after receiving his approval as a Ford dealer, he was drafted into the US Army Air Force and proudly remained on active duty until the end of World War II.  At the conclusion of World War II, Angelo returned to Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and operated the Ford dealership into the 1960s.

He made many trips to Dearborne, Michigan where he was a guest at Henry Ford's home. In the 1960’s to great surprise, Angelo sold the Ford dealership to invest in Toyota, a car mostly unknown in the US and ill-suited for our climate. He had a vision that few shared. It was a recurring story.

Over the years, he has owned automobile dealerships in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and California representing various manufacturers and was a pioneer in recognizing the impact of foreign automobiles and motorcycles in the U.S. market. 

Throughout Angelo’s 70 year history in the automotive industry he was a dealer of almost every make of vehicle and motorcycle including Edsel, Ford, Toyota Harley-Davidson, Honda, Subaru, Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet, Nissan, Acura, Hyundai, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Mazda, Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, and Jeep.

Angelo was involved in many other business ventures including the development of the Washington Mall, Oak Springs Center, Mac Plastics, Falcon Plastics, Corporate Air, The Canonsburg Pottery, Sharon Metal Products and  real estate developments for commercial, industrial and residential use in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, Nevada, California, Arizona and Ohio.

The Falconi related ventures have employed more than 1,000 people throughout the nation with approximately 700 of them working in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Angelo and his family have been supporters of many organizations throughout the area including the Washington Area Humane Society, Canonsburg Hospital, St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Canonsburg, youth athletics, Washington & Jefferson College, the Washington County Community Foundation and Falconi Field, the home of the Washington Wild Things.  He also supported the University of Pittsburgh.

He was also very proud of his involvement with the Pittsburgh Penguins.  When Mario Lemieux contacted Angelo and said he was putting together a group to buy the Penguins and keep them in Pittsburgh, Angelo once again answered the call.  He was proud to call Mario Lemieux his friend and that the team has remained a Pittsburgh landmark.

Angelo was a leader in the community.  He touched the lives of thousands of people in a positive way.

Angelo is survived by his son, Angelo M. Falconi (Angie) and a number of nieces and nephews. Deceased are his first wife, Alice Svitek, his second wife, Paula Garcia, his twin sister, Melinda Borrelli, and his sisters, Antonina Horwath, Elena Morascyzk and Rita Skittle.

Friends will be received from 2-8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in Mario L. DeAngelo Funeral Home at 194 East College Street in Canonsburg.  Departing prayers will be held in DeAngelo Funeral Home at 9:15 a.m. Thursday followed by Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Thursday November 12, 2015 in St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church at 317 West Pike Street in Canonsburg. 

Interment will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery in Canonsburg.

A guestbook is available at www.deangelocare.com.

In lieu of flowers, Angelo has requested that donations be made to the Washington Area Humane Society Po Box 66, Eighty-four, PA 15330, the Washington County Community Foundation at PO Box 308 Eighty-four, PA 15330 or Hospice Care of the Washington Hospital for the Donnell House at 155 Wilson Ave. Washington, PA 15301.

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