by Erin COLLINS
Francis and Geraldine Iannuzzelli have something to celebrate. On October 17, 1953 they
were married at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in the First Ward of Buffalo. This month
they will join family and friends to commemorate their golden anniversary.
Even though it was 50 years ago, the couple still remembers exchanging vows like it was
yesterday. The bridesmaids wore blue dresses and the groomsmen sweated in their tuxedos in
the 80-degree sunny weather. "We went to Delaware Park to get pictures taken. It was
a scorcher," Frank said.
Frank and Geri's courtship began seven years before their wedding day when they met at St.
Simon's Friday night dance.
"It's what the kids used to do every Friday," Geri recalled. The couple went on
dates and group outings with friends to the Angola Dance Hall, roller rinks, bowling
allies and movies. They remember taking the Crystal Beach boat across Lake Erie to the
Canadian amusement park. "It had three decks, an open bar and a dance floor where
they used to play music. They had slot machines, too," Frank said. Unlike the jeans
and t-shirts of today, young ladies wore skirts and blouses and gentlemen wore slacks and
dress shirts when they went out.
Both Frank and Geri started working at a young age. "My first job was in a candy
kitchen and then I worked for Kleinhan's, a men's clothing store," said Geri. She
also worked with Frank as a Child Support Enforcement officer and was even a mentor to a
first grader at Truman Elementary School before retiring.
"The first job I had was sticking pins at Recckio's," Frank said. "My
second job was at JW Clements paper factory." He also worked for Prudential Life
Insurance and is now a security guard at Park View Towers, an apartment complex for
seniors.
Eventually, Frank and Geri knew they wanted to get married. "It was just time,"
Geri said. Their first home was an apartment on Folger St. in South Buffalo. They lived
there two years for $80 per month. At the time, Frank worked for Donna-Hanna Coke and Geri
worked at Retail Merchant's Credit Bureau. They lived in several other homes before
settling down permanently.
In 1956, Frank and Geri's only daughter, Audrey Ann, was born. A few years later, they
started an annual family summer vacation to Crystal Beach. Every summer for about ten
years they would spend two weeks at a cottage, which was walking distance to the beach and
amusement park. They remember the rides, sugar waffles and loganberry.
Around the same time the Crystal Beach tradition started, Frank and Geri moved to their
current residence in Lackawanna.
"There were only three houses on the circle, a dirt road and no street lights,"
Frank said. "Now, there are 27 homes."
They paid $15,000 for their home, but on the day they moved in it had no screens or storm
doors. The installation would have cost around $500. "The contractor asked me if I
was a gambling man. We flipped a nickel and I won, so he put them in for free," he
said.
That wouldn't be Frank's last gamble. The couple started vacationing in Las Vegas in 1967
and have been going annually ever since. Spending so much time in casinos, Frank has
learned a method for gambling responsibly. "I used to play it all and you'll lose
your nose that way," he said. "So, for the last 15 years, I've stuck with video
poker and I've been holding my own."
When Frank heads for the double-down poker quarter machines in Las Vegas, he has a plan
for winning. "I've got a system, most of the time it works. The first thing is, you
must understand the game you're playing. The second thing is luck. The third thing is
money management. You limit yourself on how much you can afford to lose," he said.
Geri, who doesn't gamble at all, plays the role of banker. When Frank hits the jackpot,
she takes the winnings and keeps it in her purse until they get home. It's a big job to
manage the money of such a lucky gambler. Frank has hit the Royal Flush, the best hand
dealt in poker, three times in one week. His biggest win ever was during a gambling junket
in 1980 at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. "I had to put up $2,500 to gamble, but all
expenses were paid for," Frank said. "I won $6,000."
Las Vegas isn't the only place they like to vacation. Frank and Geri have been to places
like Alaska, Florida and Hawaii. "We've driven through every state except Oregon and
Maine," Frank said.
When they're not traveling, Geri spends a lot of time in the kitchen. Italian food,
particularly sauce, is her specialty. "I learned to cook from all of my friends and
relatives," she said. "I was very interested in learning and I would ask anyone
that I came into contact with about it."
The couple also loves spending time with their two grandchildren. For Frank and Geri
Iannuzzelli, the past five decades have been full of happy memories and love. They know
what it takes to make a relationship last.
"Love for each other first, and trust," said Frank. "As the years go on,
you get stronger. It's a two way street," he said. "You cannot have one person
'wear the pants'. That's when a relationship doesn't succeed. It has to be a joint
effort."
"It takes understanding and patience, a lot of patience. And love," said Geri.
"You just have to make it, that's all." And obviously they did!
Erin Collins is a staff associate for Living Prime Time and the granddaughter
of Frank and Geri Iannuzzelli.