Jack Licata

There are only three things you need in life: good food, drink and happiness. That's what Jack Licata told his fellow members of the Sicilian Club of New York City during a speech he gave while serving as the group's president. That one line was the whole speech, and when asked if that was all he had to say, he replied, "What else do you need?" Licata followed this mantra through his life, and he was surrounded by people who he loved up until he took his last breath on June 6, 2019. He was 88 years old. Born in Camporeale, Sicily on Jan. 4, 1931, he was the third child of Vincenzo and Rosalia Licata—parents he would pay tribute to when he named his children. He had five siblings, the late Matilda, Nicola and Vincenza, as well as his surviving siblings Giovanna and Baldassare. He married his wife, Tina, on a hot July day in 1954 in a wedding attended by more than 350 people in town—even six decades later, his wife playfully boasts about what a strapping, handsome man she married. The following year, Licata immigrated to the United States on the Andrea Doria to join his wife in New York City. Leaving behind the rural town where he was born and raised, he set foot onto the busy streets of the city that never sleeps. A savvy businessman, he used his small savings to launch an impressive decades-long career in construction and real estate. He proudly watched his children, first-generation Americans, succeed as a businessman, restauranteur, teacher and attorney, as well as forming families of their own. In his later years, he and his wife enjoyed living upstairs to their growing family and spending the winters in Pompano Beach, Florida in their condo on the beach. Licata was known for cracking one-liners and having an insatiable appetite for classic cowboy movies, and his "daily uniform" consisted of a straw Panama hat, denim shirt, khaki shorts, and what his grandchildren call "moonboot shoes." His memory will be cherished by his loving wife of 64 years and their children Vincenzo (Theresa), Pietro (Graciela), Rosalia (Carl), and Giuseppa (James). He was the proud grandfather of his namesake Jack (Christiana) Licata, Carina (Sandy) Sussman, Angela Falco, Adriana Falco, Tina (Nick) Licata, Ava Galleshaw and Lauren Galleshaw. He had one great-grandson, Jack Sussman, who was named in his honor. His legacy will live on at family gatherings, big and small, where they'll be surrounded by cherished loved ones--and great food and drink. After all, what else do you need? The wake will be Sunday, June 9, 2019 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Palms West Funeral Home, 110 Business Park Way in Royal Palm Beach. A full mass will be conducted on Monday, June 10, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles, 100 Crestwood Blvd S. in Royal Palm Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org.