Henry Franklin (“Hank”) Constantino, 94, passed away on October 15, 2021 in Southport, NC. Hank was born on May 22, 1927 to Samuel and Marian (Wiskirchen) Constantino in Quincy, IL. After attending Notre Dame High School where he excelled in sports and especially football, Hank and his cousin Pat enlisted at the local Naval Enlistment Center and shipped out to Great Lakes Naval Base for basic training. Hank was directed to Officer Candidate School but a previous football injury landed him an assignment in the United States Navy as a Seaman, 2nd Class. Following WWII, Hank enrolled at Quincy College where his success on the Quincy College football team earned him a place in the Quincy College Hall of Fame. He achieved an advanced degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (’52, M.S. in Education), and after graduation was the Director of Athletics at his alma mater, Quincy Notre Dame High School.
A nearly 40-year career in business began with a “cub” salesman position at F.M. Stamper Co. and eventually Head of Sales position, growing annual sales from $6 million to over $300 million. In 1965, Hank left the company to found one of his own: the Constantino Brokerage Company (CBC), one of the most successful and innovative brokerage businesses in the Midwest, headquartered in St. Louis with offices in three states, annual sales of one hundred million dollars, and Broker of the Year recognition from companies such as the Clorox Company, the Coca-Cola Company, and Ralston Purina. His many accomplishments included Man of the Year by the Metropolitan Retail Food Dealers of Greater Saint Louis in 1977 and St. Louis Food Dealer of the Year Award in 1978. After selling Constantino Brokerage Company to the Eisenhart Brokerage Company, Hank turned his attention to other interests. As a member of the Quincy College Board of Directors, Hank helped raise critical funding for the institution, an act commemorated in the iconic “Windows to the Future” monument located on campus today. He co-founded and built the St. Louis Eye Hospital in 1980 as President/Chairman, co-sponsored the NASCAR Junior Johnson-Budweiser Racing Car, founded BIO-KINGDOM focused on outdoor products, and founded UKON LLC, a waste-to-energy startup.
In his personal life, Hank was devoted to the Catholic Church, was an avid fisherman and hunter, an expert trainer of dogs, esteemed for his fine Italian cooking, and the consummate entertainer. His consistent message was to cultivate an optimistic “State of Mind,” (think that you CAN and you WILL), and he inspired both tough-mindedness and tenderness, ambition and generosity-of-spirit. He was the devoted husband of Jill P. (Harley) Constantino; beloved father of Larry (Debbie), John (Michele), and Paul (Julie) Constantino and Mary Ellen Scherl; a grandfather (“Poppy”) to eleven and great-grandfather to one; a dear friend to many.
Hank was preceded in death by his parents Sam and Marian, his older brother Sam Constantino, Jr., older sister Betty Anne McIntosh, and younger brother Nick Constantino.
Services: A memorial mass will be held in Quincy, IL on November 6, 2021 at 10 AM at the Quincy University Chapel followed by an 11:30 burial ceremony at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Hank can be made to Quincy University (https://www.quincy.edu/).