Mr. Francisco Valeri

Francesco “Frank” Valeri, of Las Vegas, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016. Frank was born in 1928, in the small seaside town of Porto San Giorgio, Italy. He was a proud native Italian who, at the age of 19 years, immigrated to the United States. Frank became a U.S. citizen in 1953. Following his passion of photography, Frank chose to move to Las Vegas in 1954, where he took up permanent residency and began his professional career. He was the founder of Frank Valeri Photography. Through his work, he enjoyed photographing the growth and change of Las Vegas from 1954 to the present. Frank was employed as a photographer by many casinos that have made Las Vegas a national entertainment center. When attending a theatrical event in the Showboat, Landmark, Sahara or other casinos, one was certain to have had his photograph taken by Frank, or one of his associates. Frank took photos of nearly every celebrity who entertained people during the growth years of the iconic “Strip.” He also memorialized family events for the residents of Las Vegas as well being a photographer for nearly all construction events occurring in Las Vegas for over six decades. Even today his work memorializes the growth of an international city. Frank also felt it important to help others and to give something of himself back to the community. He joined the Las Vegas Host Lions in 1971, and was a “Melvin Jones Fellow” and “Life Member” of Lions Clubs International. For 44 years he served the Las Vegas Host Lions Club as their Historian and Lion Tamer. From the moment he joined he was active in service and was recently making plans to continue his monthly volunteering at the Blind Center. Frank always gave to others first and exemplified the Lions motto of “We Serve.” Frank is survived by his sister, Valeria Ulfelder of Orange, Calif.; brothers, Nicholes Valeri of Corte Madera, Calif., Dante Storelli of San Francisco, and Thomas Storelli of Concord, Calif., along with their children and grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service on Friday February 19, 2016 at 12:00Noon at the Italian Cemetery 540 F Street Colma, CA. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations are to be made to the Las Vegas Host Lions 501c3 Foundation, PO Box 27858, Las Vegas, NV 89126.

Mr. Francisco Valeri

February 13, 1928 - February 2, 2016