Harry Frezza, Sr.

Harry Thomas Frezza Sr. died peacefully early Thursday morning, August 4, 2016, at Arbor Glen Senior Living in Bridgewater Township. He was 89. Mr. Frezza was predeceased by his wife of sixty-three years, Concetta Mary Benincasa Frezza, who died May 18, this year. 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 United States Army in January of 1945, and served in the First Army at Camp Hammelburg, Germany. He was awarded the Army Occupation Medal on completion of service in November of 1946. Mr. Frezza worked as a traffic specialist for more than thirty-five years at American Cyanamid Co., 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. Mr. Frezza 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 favorites were Louis Prima and Keely Smith. Mr. Frezza was devoted to caring for his family dogs Spike, Sandy, Holly, and Sassy. He loved both salt water and fresh water fishing, and watching his life long time favorite baseball 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 his son, Harry Thomas Frezza, Jr., of Bound Brook, and beloved grandchildren, Thomas James, Nicole, and Jamie Janeen of Nazareth, Pennsylvania; also, many loving nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers and law, and friends -- some of whom grew up in Bound Brook's 'West End,' near his childhood home on Talmage Avenue. In addition to his wife, Mr. Frezza was predeceased by his father, Anthony Ralph Frezza, and mother Lucy Zan Grando Frezza. His brother, Anthony, died in 1974. Funeral services will be 9:30 A.M. Monday, August 7, at the funeral home, followed by a 10:00 A.M. Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Church (Mountain Avenue and East High Street, next door 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 West Union Avenue, Bound Brook, New Jersey 08805. See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mycentraljersey/obituary.aspx?n=harry-thomas-frezza&pid=180977995&fhid=17079#sthash.XT5LvTNM.dpuf .