Francis 'Nick' Riccio

Francis Nicholas Riccio, 29 of Charleston, SC, died Tuesday January 6, 2015 at his West Ashley home. Nick was born July 4, 1985 in Fairbanks, Alaska, a son of Daniel and Margaret Riccio. Nick was a true patriot and his lifelong dream was to be a Marine. After graduating West Ashley High School in 2003, he joined the United States Marine Corps, willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for his country. After graduating boot camp at Parris Island, Nick went to infantry school and became a SAW gunner and was assigned to a unit at Camp Lejeune, NC. He was deployed to Iraq in March, 2004 where he sustained a life-threatening brain injury on June 18, 2004 after being struck with a mortar round. On July 5, 2004, Nick, one of the youngest recipients at that time, was awarded the Purple Heart in his Bethesda Naval Hospital room. Nick was also awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and National Defense Service Medal by the United States Department of Defense. In 2007, Nick was awarded the Ultimate Hero Trojan Award for meritorious action in combating the global war on terrorism and in 2014 was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project. Nick was a devoted husband and father to wife Ashley and children, Aubrie Victoria and Francis Anthony. Nick enjoyed playing with his children, who were the loves of his life. His zest for life was infectious as were his beautiful smile and bright blue eyes. Nick is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Francis Nicholas Riccio and Mary Sue Riccio and his maternal grandparents, Anna Isamina Glover and Chester Lee Glover. Nick is survived by his wife Ashley Jenkins Riccio, his daughter Aubrie and his son Anthony; his parents, Dan and Margaret Riccio; brother, Justin Riccio, sister-in-law Brittany and nephew Chase. Nick is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins who will miss him dearly. The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 8, 2015, at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home West Ashley Chapel, from 6:00pm until 8:00pm. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 9, 2015, at 10:00am, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1695 Raoul Wallenberg Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29407, with Reverend Gabriel J. Smith presiding. Interment, with military honors, will follow at Live Oak Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in Nick’s honor to the Wounded Warrior Project http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, 843-722-8371.

Visitation:
Thursday, January 8, 2015