Harry Frezza Obituary
Harry Thomas Frezza Sr.
AGE: 89 • Bound Brook
Harry Thomas Frezza Sr. died peacefully early Thursday morning (Aug. 4) at Arbor Glen Senior Living in Bridgewater Township. He was 89.
Mr. Frezza was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Concetta Mary Benincasa Frezza, who died May 18. Mr. Frezza, a lifelong resident of Bound Brook, was born March 6, 1927 at Somerset Hospital in Somerville..
He was a 1944 graduate of Bound Brook High School,
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in January of 1945 and served in the First Army at Camp Hammelburg, Germany. He awarded the Army Occupation Medal on completion of service in November of 1946.
Mr. Frezza worked as a traffic specialist for more than 35 years at American Cyanamid in Bridgewater. It was while working at Cyanamid that Mr. Frezza met his wife. They were married April 11, 1953 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Bound Brook.
Mr. Frezza was an active communicant of the church and rarely missed Mass and was a king tune usher until recent years. He was a member of the Rosary Altar Society, Catholic Youth Organization and other church groups. He also sold raffle tickets and worked the booths at 'Fiesta' a carnival the parish held for many years on its school grounds.
He was active in the Bound Brook Little League for decades, most notably as the league's treasurer. He was also head coach of the Bound Brook Elks. Bound Brook hosted the 1971 New Jersey State Championships at Tea Street Field (the present site of the Shop Rite) and Mr. Frezza assisted as the event's treasurer. Ironically, Bound Brook was one of the final four and made the championship game.
He was awarded the "Frank Maggiore Memorial Award' in 1978 for his 'meritorious service to the Bound Brook Little League. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion and Veteran of Foreign War.
Mr. Frezza loved to keep his garden, raising tomatoes, cucumbers, corn and other vegetables. He loved food, his favorite being Italian - and loved fruit, ice cream -- treats in general.
He was an outstanding card player, and enjoyed bi-monthly trips to Atlantic City with his wife and family. Mrs. Frezza would play the slots, and Mr. Frezza would sit for hours at the card tables. He loved music -- jazz, boogie-woogie, jump blues, R&B, early rock & roll, and even the occasional Italian tarantella. He enjoyed the big bands, but his personal favorite was Louis Prima and Keely Smith.
Mr. Frezza was devoted to caring for family dogs Spike, Sandy, Holly and Sassy, loved both salt water and fresh water fishing and watching his life long favorite team -- the New York Yankees -- through good and bad times. His favorite players were Hall of Famers and Italian Americans Phil Rizzuto, Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio. He was also a passionate fan of boxing.
Mr. Frezza is survived by son, Harry Thomas Frezza Jr., of Bound Brook and grandchildren, Thomas James, Nicole and Jamie Janeen of Nazareth (Pa.).
Also: many loving nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers and laws and friends -- some of whom who grew up in Bound Brook's 'west end' near his childhood home on Talmage Avenue.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Frezza was pre deceased by his father, Anthony Ralph Frezza and mother Lucy Zan Grando Frezza. His brother, Anthony, died in 1974.
Funeral services will be 5 p.m., Sunday (Aug. 7) at Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home, 225 Mountain Ave., Bound Brook, followed Monday (Aug. 8) by a 10 A.M. Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church (Mountain Ave and E. High St, right next to the funeral home). Interment will be at St. Bernard Cemetery, Bridgewater. Memorial contributions may be made to the Robotics Team of Bound Brook High School, 111 W. Union Ave., Bound Brook, NJ 08805.
Published by Courier News on Aug. 6, 2016.