Longtime Southwest Businessman, Kerry T. Pacifico passed away on December 2, 2019.
Mr. Pacifico was born in Philadelphia in 1924. He graduated from South Philadelphia High School. He joined the army and was deployed to Europe during World War II. Seventy-five years ago he fought at the Battle of the Bulge and was wounded on his 21st birthday. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his injury. Some 19,000 soldiers were killed in the battle, which was the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the U.S. in WWII and the third deadliest in American history.
It was Mr. Pacifico’s idea to create a mall of auto dealers and he did so in 1970 on Essington Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. He was the owner of Pacifico Ford and many Southwest residents bought a car from him over the years.
Mr. Pacifico gave back to the community over the years. He created a scholarship fund in 1964. He hosted Christmas parties for Southwest’s children for years. This year, he hosted a Trunk or Treat Halloween party for 300 children. His dealership also helped distribute jackets to schools and nonprofits in Southwest.
Mr. Pacifico’s funeral mass was held at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Center City and he was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Conshohocken.
