William S. Ricciuti

William S. Ricciuti, 81, of Coatesville, passed away on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at the Chester County Hospital in West Chester, PA. Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Jules Ricciuti and Rose Marsico Ricciuti.

Bill grew up in Philadelphia and was a 1955 graduate of South Philadelphia High School. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and proudly served in the United States Army National Guard from 1959 to 1965. Bill was also a Philadelphia Police Officer and achieved the rank of detective.

In his youth, Bill enjoyed summers in Margate, NJ. with his Godmother, where he also became a lifeguard as a teen. He was an incredible dancer, the life of many parties and a great practical joker. As a police officer, he met Pres. John F. Kennedy, Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and actress Ann-Marget, who he took to get a cheesesteak while she was staying in Philadelphia.

In later life, Bill loved being a father, where he rooted for his daughter Julia at track and cross country meets or introduced her to fine dining in Philadelphia. He also took her to Avalon, NJ. on summer weekends, where the two gazed at the night sky through a telescope.

He was employed by Superior Lamp and Supply of Marlton, NJ as a salesman, where he formed close friendships. After moving in with Julia in 2010, he became a member of Saint Peter Catholic Church in West Brandywine.

Bill is survived by his only daughter Julia Sherwin and husband Todd of Coatesville, one stepson Roger Ricciuti of Haddon Township, NJ, six grandchildren; Brittanie, Roger and Christina Ricciuti; Keira, Camille and Lachlan Sherwin; and three sisters: Marie Dooley, Rita Mattia, and Mae Binder.

Bill truly loved life, and he felt blessed to have lived the last 9 years with his daughter’s three children. He made their school lunches, picked them up from the bus stop and could be seen at both Girl Scout and Cub Scout meetings, waiting patiently to drive his loves home. Bill made many friends wherever he went, and his smile was effervescent.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Saint Peter Catholic Church, 2835 Manor Road, West Brandywine, PA 19320 followed by interment at SS Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield, PA at 2:30 PM. Family and friends are also invited to attend the viewing on Monday morning at the church from 9:30 - 11:00 AM.

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg. Online condolences can be made at www.wildefuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (See Link Below for donations) 

https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_dcm=201974625&sc...