My grandfather was a lighthearted, loving man who put others above himself in all situations. When he was diagnosed with cancer, I don't believe that I, or any of my family members were really prepared to take on the complications and battles that came attched to Pancreatic Cancer. His fight against the disease was long, tough, and at times it seemed as though hope had been lost forever. In the hospital during one of the nights that I sat with him he said, "I survived so many setbacks throughout my life, and this is no different. If this is as good as it gets for me, I mean in this moment with you, than I'll die a happy man. I'll die a survivor." I held my grandfathers hand just moments before he passed away on October 15th, 2008, and looking back on those days now, I wish I would have said the words that I think to myself everyday. My grandfather was a huge part of my life, and in many ways he taught me to be the person that I am today, and taught me how to embark on my journey throughout life without fear of failure or of inability. He was inspiring, and I've created this site to help raise money for Cancer reasearch so that others become aware of the swift moving dangers of Cancer, and to help those in need of a cure.
Mario Patrick Ricciardi, 72, of Collegeville, a beautician and cosmetology instructor, died of pancreatic cancer Wednesday at home.
Mr. Ricciardi grew up in South Philadelphia with 11 siblings. After earning his beautician's license, he taught at a beauty school in Upper Darby, where one of his students was his future wife, Rosemary Martino. He was later a beautician at Vincent & Joseph Salon in Ardmore and at DeMarco Salon in Broomall before deciding to become a full-time educator.
He earned a bachelor's degree from Temple University and then taught cosmetology for more than 20 years in schools in the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. While teaching in the unit, and after retiring in 2000, he taught part time at New Concepts Beauty Academy in Upper Darby.
Before moving to Collegeville in the 1980s, Mr. Ricciardi was a Delaware County resident and a scout master for a Boy Scout troop in Clifton Heights.
His daughter, Sandra McHugh, said Mr. Ricciardi also enjoyed crafts, sketching, painting in oils and water colors, and creating sand sculptures at the Jersey Shore.
In addition to his wife of 49 years and daughter, Mr. Ricciardi is survived by sons Charles, Anthony, Michael and Paul; four sisters; two brothers; and 13 grandchildren.
"There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroad. Afraid. Confused. Without a roadmap. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. Of course, when faced with the unknown, most of us would rather turn around and go back. But once in awhile people push on to something better-something found just beyond the pain of going it alone and just beyond the bravery and courage it takes to let someone in. Or to give someone a second chance. Something beyond the quiet persistence of a dream. Because it’s only when you’re tested that you discover who you truly are. And it's only when you're tested that you discover who you can be. The person you want to be does exist, somewhere on the other side of hard work, faith and belief, and beyond heartache and fear of what lies ahead.."
