Steven Todisco, director of Affinity Print and son of Ralph Todisco, has penned a heartwarming tribute to his late uncle, Frank Todisco.

Steven told Sprinter, “I still remember the smell of ink from when I used to go to work with my father on the weekends back in the day of RFM in Port Melbourne (named after the three brothers Ralph, Frank, and Mario).

“He went from humble beginnings, to owning the latest equipment and printing presses money could buy in a factory he restored from the ground up in Port Melbourne. When he started his own business he took it to great heights, then sold it when he retired.

“He bought so many companies that I can’t remember them all. I think he was doing everyone a favour by taking the competition out of the market. He was driven to achieve greatness in whatever he did.

“One day, Heidelberg called him about a web press they couldn’t sell, so he decided to give it a shot. Most people would have run the other way, but once Frank made up his mind, it was all or nothing. He wasn’t afraid to take risks.

“Frank Todisco was a powerhouse. He always had his sons by his side and never looked back. [His passing is] a bittersweet reminder of a bygone era, a time when printing wasn’t just a business, but a family affair.

“Even when I used to work at my father’s printing company, he always made time for me when I visited. The smell of ink, the clatter of presses, and even his second-hand smoke, all hold a faint echo of Frank Todisco – a legend etched not just in print but also in the very fabric of the industry.

“Whether you loved him or hated him, his legacy lives on in the countless untold stories of those he helped, those he competed with, and those he inspired – a testament to a life lived boldly on his own terms. RIP Frank; love you always.”

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter