A trailblazer. A lover of family, friends, football, history, heritage, and this great country. Flavio Mikulicic went home to be with the Lord on October 4, 2026. Flavio, born in Mali Losinj, on December 24, 1941, was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather who lived a life that epitomized the American Dream. Orphaned due to war as a toddler, he was raised by his mother’s sisters on the island where he was born. By the time he was 6, the maritime island was no longer part of Italy but under a new regime, Yugoslavia. Through this transition, native Italians became strangers in their own land, as they were forced to abandon their native language, even being required to alter the spelling of their family names to assimilate to the culture of the new regime. As an adolescent, unable to continue in school, Flavio began working in a shipyard. As a teenager, with the love and support of the women who raised him, Flavio escaped from Yugoslavia to a refugee camp on the mainland of Italy. As the camp worked to issue visas, he was asked if he would like to go to America. Not realizing that America would be a possibility for him, he dreamt of all that could mean for him and said yes. Before turning 21, Flavio arrived on Madison Avenue in New York City with nothing and without speaking English. He vividly remembered the kindness of a woman who offered him a place to work, a place to live, and who encouraged and helped him to learn the language, for which he was always grateful.

While in New York, Flavio met and married Licia Francolla, becoming the proud father of Angela and Joseph. After the marriage ended, Flavio found himself at a State Farm office where he saw a beautiful dark-haired girl sitting behind a desk. While she wondered who this guy thought he was, for him, it was love at first sight. After introducing himself to Barbara Schoenfeld, he won her over with his charm. The two were married, and he became a proud father of Christine and Michael.

Having learned automotive body work in America, Flavio quickly had aspirations of his own business. While he made attempts to accomplish this in New York, these attempts served only as stepping stones for what was ahead as he and Barbara moved to Virginia. There, he continued working in body shops, but was eventually laid off. One night, he had a dream that he and a friend opened a business together. It was his tenacity, persistence, and grit that led to his acquiring West Salem Body Shop of Salem, Virginia. With his focus on customers and quality, West Salem Body Shop became a local success, with countless letters of praise for the good and honest work they did. Flavio would later describe it as the best move he ever made.

Throughout his years in Virginia, his accent would often prompt people to ask him where he was from. Without hesitating, he would say New York because America was the only place where he felt at home.

Always on the move, Flavio and Barbara relocated to Florida, falling in love with The Villages. When asked how things were going there, he was always quick to let you know, “It’s a beautiful day in The Villages.”

In the years that followed, he watched his children marry and was loved by each of his six grandchildren. His love of football, playing cards, camping, cars, the outdoors, building things, travel, puzzles, games, history, and story-telling, as well as his love of this country, can still be seen in the interests and passions of his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Guido Mikulicic and Angelina Zitkovic Mikulicic, and the aunts who raised him, Dolores Muzic, Tea Zitkovic, and Maria.

He leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Barbara. He also leaves his children, Angela (Jim) Malone of Chappaqua, NY; Joe (Tina) Mikulicic of West Babylon, NY; Chrissy (Jason) Lester of Forest, VA; and Michael (Jodi) Mikulicic of Virginia Beach, VA. He also leaves behind his precious grandchildren: Ian, Isabelle, Owen, Chloe, Mikey, and Cambri.

Flavio leaves behind countless stories that will be told and retold by those who love him. His was a life of courage, determination, hard work, family, and an enduring love for the country he was so proud to call home. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

Flavio’s immediate family and close friends will gather for a private funeral on Saturday, November 7, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul, 5323 E. County Road 462, Wildwood, FL 34785. The service will also be livestreamed, allowing family and friends both near and far to share in honoring Flavio’s life. The livestream may be viewed at http://sumtercatholic.org/funeral using the password svdp5323.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation dedicated in memory of Flavio to the American Cancer Society.