A house RESOLUTION

 

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF FRANK PALMA ARDAIOLO OF SEABROOK ISLAND AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Frank Palma Ardaiolo of Seabrook Island at the venerable age of seventy-seven on May 5, 2026; and

 

Whereas, Frank Ardaiolo was born October 21, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of the late Salvatore Ardaiolo and the late Helen DeChicchio Ardaiolo, as well as the identical twin of James Anthony Ardaiolo; and

 

Whereas, he was raised in Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal, and on Long Island, New York. As an adolescent and teenager, he spent significant time in Roberts Field, Liberia, where his father was posted for Pan Am World Airways. He earned a bachelor's degree from Assumption University, followed by a Master of Science degree in college student affairs and a doctorate in higher education from Indiana University; and

 

Whereas, in June 1989, Frank was hired as vice president of student life at Rock Hill's Winthrop University, having previously worked at the University of South Carolina and the University of Connecticut. Known fondly as "Dr. A.," Frank Ardaiolo retired in 2018, having spent twenty-nine years at Winthrop, a driving force behind the school's promotion of diversity, citizenship, and international relations. Active in the development of his profession, he also served as the president of the Foundation Board of Directors of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, commonly known as NASPA; and

 

Whereas, Frank was an active member of the Rock Hill community, as well. He was an original member of the city's No Room for Racism Committee, the chair of the Committee on Human Relations, and a member of the Hispanic Education Task Force and the International Center of York County. He was also on the board of directors for Keystone Substance Abuse Services. In 2018, he was awarded the inaugural Civic Engagement Leader Award by the South Carolina Campus Compact and the Dream Keeper Award by the City of Rock Hill; and

 

Whereas, throughout his life, Frank maintained a connection with his childhood home of Liberia. He served as chair of the board of trustees for Friends of Liberia, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization, and was a vocal advocate for U.S. intervention during the Liberian civil war of the 1990s and 2000s. He served as a United Nations-sanctioned peace monitor during the 2005 Liberian elections; and

 

Whereas, Frank Ardaiolo leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Joleen Phifer Ardaiolo; his daughter, Shannon; two sons, Michael (Karisa) and Matthew; his grandson, Skyler; his brothers, Tom (Yvonne) and James, the latter being Dr. Ardaiolo's identical twin; and a host of other family members and friends. He will be greatly missed. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Frank Palma Ardaiolo of Seabrook Island and extend the deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family.

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