Frank Anthony Canto, owner of Canto Tile & Stone Consulting in Tampa, Florida, passed away on June 23, 2023, at the age of 74.

He was a resident of Tampa, a respected tile industry expert and dedicated family man.

Canto specialized in all phases of custom exterior and interior hard-surface installations for exclusive residential and commercial projects. During his semi-retirement he consulted on tile and stone projects for building owners, architects, general contractors, home builders, tile distributors, interior designers. 

Canto was a member of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) member for many years and became the association’s regional director in the late 90s, serving four years. He was a member of the NTCA Technical Committee and was invited to join the NTCA Executive Committee in 2002. He served as NTCA president from 2006-2008 and chairman of the board from 2008-2010. He was named NTCA's Tile Person of the Year in 2010. 

The Canto family has been associated with the tile contracting industry in Florida for more than 90 years. Canto learned the tile setting trade from an his father, John Canto, who was a veteran of World War II in the Pacific Theater as a U.S. Marine PFC. John Canto formed Hillsborough Tile Corporation in Tampa in the early 1960s.

Frank Canto started going to tile jobs at the age of 15, working summers for his father, but did not plan to follow in his footsteps. In 1969 – married, with a two-year-old son John—he moved from Neptune Beach to Tampa with intentions of working for Delta Airlines. The airline job never panned out, and Frank's professional tile career took off… at $2.50 per hour.

Frank worked for his father at Hillsborough Tile from 1969 to 1982, specializing in both commercial and residential tile work. Already a seasoned mechanic, Canto learned the business side of the family business.

Frank then joined Craig Tile in Tampa, a growing commercial and residential contracting company, for 25 years. Starting as an estimator, Canto subsequently held positions in sales and project management. During his tenure with Craig Tile he was promoted to vice president, and eventually president.

He formed Canto Tile and Stone in 2007, along with wife Linda, son John and daughter Natalie. In 2009 Canto Tile was awarded the prestigious NTCA Five-Star status. In 2010 Canto was recognized as an industry consultant, passing a rigid set of association criteria to honor industry experts for jobsite investigation and reporting.

Canto has always been committed to training. In 1990, he helped the Gulf Coast chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) launch a federally-approved tile apprenticeship course which ran for five years. After that, Canto remained active in the ABC, serving as chairman in 2007, and on their board and executive committee. He was also a board member for the American Subcontractors Association’s Tampa Chapter.

Canto is survived by his wife of 56 years, Linda; his daughter, Natalie Aprile and her husband, Jason Aprile; son, John Canto; grandchildren, Jason D. Aprile, Brodie Aprile, Angelo Canto, Alexa Canto, Alycen Canto, Adrian Canto and great-grandson, Greyson Rockwell; as well as brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Frank lived a fun and happy life, earning the love of many. He will be missed and remembered.

In lieu of flowers: the family has requested that you may donate to a charity of your choice.