Rosario "Chuck" D'Acquisto

Racine- Rosario Natale D’Acquisto, affectionately known all of his life as “Chuck”; age 84; passed away suddenly, yet peacefully, at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints Medical Center on Monday evening, December 1, 2014.

A Christmas Eve baby, Chuck was born in Racine on December 24, 1929 to the late Joseph and Rosaria (nee: Esposito) D’Acquisto. He attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and graduated from William Horlick High School – where he discovered his lifelong passion of photography as the school’s camera man. Chuck faithfully served our Country with the 50th Signal Battalion of the United States Army during the Korean War 1951-53, as an aerial cinematographer and the official photographer for Major General B.M. Bryan (commander of Camp Sendai in Japan).

On February 4, 1956 in St. Lucy Catholic Church (when located on Howe Street), he was united in marriage with the love of his life, Edith Mary (nee: Candela) D’Acquisto.

Chuck was employed by the Racine Journal Times as a charismatic photographer / photojournalist from 1954 until his retirement on December 14, 1990 – a day the Mayor Owen Davies declared “Chuck D’Acquisto Day”. During his tenure at the paper, Chuck was awarded many citations including “Wisconsin Photo of the Year” by the Wisconsin Associated Press; and had also served as President of the Journal Times Credit Union. However, Chuck continued to freelance with the newspaper on various projects for numerous years after retiring. Chuck considered his career as a “way-of-life” instead of “work” and he was truly an ambassador for our community throughout his entire life. Chuck quite often used his camera skills in capturing memories of Racine County as a volunteer. He was forever involved with some of our area local trademark activities – Lighthouse Run (inducted to Lighthouse Run “Hall of Fame” June 30, 2004), Animal Cracker’s Jazz Series, Racine Home Show, Racine Auto Show, Racine County Fair, and was one of the leaders in founding Pancake Day (having attended all 60 years of our local pancake tradition).  Earlier in his career, Chuck also owned and operated D’Acquisto Realty for a short period of time.

A great man of faith, Chuck was an extremely dedicated and active member of St. Lucy Catholic Church – serving as a senior usher, devoted volunteer at the annual summer festival, and (along with Edie) coordinated bus tours to multiple entertainment locations for the past 20 years including Branson….just to name a few. He was also proud of his Italian heritage, having been a longtime member of the Roma Lodge. Above all, Chuck will be forever remembered as the first one in line to help anyone needing a helping hand. His charismatic personality and ability to bring people together will be sadly missed by those who and loved him.

Surviving are his loving wife of over 58 years, Edith “Edie”; their cherished daughters, Denise (Mark) Ewe and Dawn (Patrick) Tierney; beloved grandchildren who he adored dearly, Emily & Kaitlyn Ewe, John & Michael Tierney; sisters-in-law, Janet and Marge D’Acquisto; nieces, nephews, other relatives, church family and friends – too numerous to mention all by name.

In addition to his parents, Chuck was preceded in death by all of his brothers and sisters, Grace D’Acquisto, Sal (Frances) D’Acquisto, Josephine (Alfred) Colla, Matthew D’Acquisto, Anthony D’Acquisto, Dominic (Inga) D’Acquisto, Joseph D’Acquisto and Steven D’Acquisto; sisters-n-law, Aquiline (Louis) Russo, Betty Candela and Evelyn (Ralph) Ziccarelli; brother-in-law, Frank Candela; niece, Antoinette D’Acquisto; and nephews, Joseph and Bruce D’Acquisto.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Chuck will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 12:00 noon in St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Avenue, with Rev. Mark R. Jones officiating. Entombment, with military honors, will be in the mausoleum of Holy Cross Cemetery, Highway 32. A life celebration luncheon will follow. Visitation will be IN THE FUNERAL HOME on Tuesday from 4:00 – 8:00 pm (Roma Lodge service at 6 pm) and in Chuck’s beloved ST. LUCY CHURCH on Wednesday from 10 am -12 noon. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the “Chuck D’Acqusito Memorial Fund” – to be used to provide comfort packages for critically ill children in H.O.T. (Hematology Oncology Transplant) Unit at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin; for the Make-A-Wish of Wisconsin; and for educational programming for ASSEW (Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin).