Frank P. Difeo was the founder and owner of Dif-e-Yo.
Background[]
Frank Difeo was born to Sabino and Lucy (Distefano) Difeo on March 7th, 1952 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He lived his youth in Havervill and Plaistow, New Hampshire, where he and his brothers were always tinkering with something (typically to make it louder and faster), or getting into trouble. In 1970, he was a graduate of Haverhill Trade School where he honed his skills as a machinist. He enjoyed a successful 18-year career at Lucent Technologies as a tool maker while also operating his home shop, Difeo Machine.
Due to the slow down of the economy and the closing of Lucent Technologies, he retired and started to make aluminum yo-yos. He also created the Dif Pads (and later the Dif-Binders), the grooved bearing and its popular successor, the revolutionary KonKave bearing.
He was also the owner of YoYoJam Titan Gold #7, before he sold it from his eBay shop in August 2023.
When not making yo-yos, Frank usually spent time with his wife of nearly 50 years, Kathy (a legend in the dance community). When the weather was nice, they would enjoy afternoon rides in Frank’s Corvette or hang by their pool at home. In cooler weather, they would fly down to Florida and live the snowbird life. Kathy and Frank adored each other. They had a truly unique dynamic that generated laughter and fun between them. Their lives were enriched by their two sons who were lucky to have inherited their father’s mechanical inclinations and wit.
Frank has passed away unexpectedly on March 3rd, 2024 at the Massachusetts General Hospital[1], with the death being announced by Mo Chavez on the YoYoExpert forums on March 5th, 2024.[2]
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