He was often the first smiling face greeting visitors to the Italian American Sport Club in Gates. Frank Caricchio spent much of his time volunteering at the organization that gave him so much joy. Two years ago, Caricchio, a member of the 1963 Italian American Sport Club of Rochester team that won the U.S. Amateur Soccer Cup, defeating seven other cities, died at age 78 after battling pancreatic cancer.

The club decided to start a benefit in his memory for the former Greece Athena soccer coach who gave so much to the community. Through a golf tournament named in memory of Caricchio, the club was able to raise $8,000  to give to nonprofits such as Hope Hall School, Story of Hope Comfort Care, Lifetime Care and Hildebrandt Hospice Home, Wilmot Cancer Institute, Harvard Pancreatic Cancer Research and Home for Anthony for young adults with learning disabilities.