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Fred Barletta Sr. the man, benefactor recalled
The Barletta brothers and sisters gathered shortly after the death of their brother, Maury. The photo was taken in 1982. From left: Frank, Rocco, Rose Farnell, Jay, Joe, Anna DePierro, Jack and Fred Sr., who died Sunday at age 75 in Hazleton.
Three generations of Barlettas visited St. Joseph’s in the Hills Catholic Retreat in Malvern, Chester County, in July. The late Fred Barletta Sr. is third from the right. From left: Matthew, grandson; Timmy, son; Fred Jr., son; Fred Sr.; David, son; Shawn, grandson.
Submitted photos
HAZLETON – Fred Barletta Jr. remembers his dad as a great man and an even greater father. A prominent area businessman and benefactor, Fred Barletta Sr. died Sunday at age 75, leaving behind a legacy of faith, family and community service.
The younger Barletta remembers the pair’s annual trips to different Major League Baseball cities – 50 or more to Boston and Fenway Park. Fred Barletta Jr. is a Yankee fan; his dad was a die-hard Red Sox fan. But the two never let their team loyalties interfere with their loving relationship.
“I think a lot of traits that I have and my brothers have are directly rubbed off on us from him,” said Barletta, 53. “Traits like the importance of family, the importance of church and a love of things like sports.”
Barletta said his father instilled in his family the importance of giving back to the community.
“Foremost for him was his family,” he said. “And he was a man of faith and very patriotic to his country. Then came the Boston Red Sox.”
Barletta said his father served on numerous community boards and as a member of the Hazleton School Board for 12 years.
“So much of what I’ve become came from him,” he said. “He and the kind of person he was is the reason why I chose to stay in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This is our home; this is where our family is.”
Barletta said his father set an example that was easy to follow. He said the elder Barletta never preached to his children; he just got involved with things and showed why such involvement was important.
“He provides the template as a good model for all of us to follow,” he said.
The Barletta family owned and operated Angela Park for years. Fred Barletta Jr. said memories of the park will stay with him forever.
“Angela Park was just a heckuva lot of fun,” he said. “We always talk about it to this day; we spent our youth in an amusement park. How much better can it get than that?”
Barletta said his dad and his brothers and sisters all worked at the park in various roles. His dad operated the Barletta Stone Quarry in Nescopeck and ran the family-owned Edgewood in the Pines golf course in Drums until it was sold.
“My dad never did anything to embarrass our family,” Barletta said. “I’m sure there were some political disagreements over the years, but he never jeopardized our family’s reputation.”
Barletta said his father could be a character at times. When Joe Zone was the sports director at WNEP-TV, he once told Red Sox fans that if the Sox finished ahead of the Yankees at season’s end, they could bury him in the Channel 16’s backyard. At the time, the Red Sox held a large divisional lead over the New Yorkers, making Red Sox fans, like Barletta Sr., upset.
The Red Sox did, in fact, win the American League East over the Yanks, but not many Red Sox fans gave Zone’s May challenge much of a thought – except for Fred Barletta Sr.
“I can still see him coming down the stairs wearing his Red Sox hat and shirt,” Barletta recalled. “We asked him where he was going and he said he was going to bury Joe Zone.”
Barletta did go to the television station and he did “bury” Zone. The two men became friends and would talk occasionally for years after.
“His death leaves a hole that can’t be filled,” Barletta said. “But at times like this, we all have to keep a stiff upper lip; it’s not easy and we will never get over it.”
Barletta quickly said his family is going through a difficult time not unlike many other families who have lost their loved ones.
“We now really understand what they have gone through and their pain,” he said. “Reminiscing and remembering is part of the healing process.”
Barletta said his father would want all of his family to continue to always do the right thing and live every day. He said one thing he will miss is their annual “male-bonding trip” to an MLB park. Barletta, his father, and Fred Jr.’s two sons would make a trip each season to a different city.
“This year we were going to Atlanta,” he said. “We would spend four or five days in each city and get a feel for it and attend several games.”
The Barlettas visited Boston and Fenway Park at least 50 times.
“We were there in 1975 for the World Series when Carlton Fisk hit that memorable home run down the left-field line,” Barletta said. “I’ll never forget that moment; I’ll never forget that I saw it with my dad.”
Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta and Fred Jr. are cousins. They are the same age and grew up together and remain close today.
“What I remember the most is that he knew his priorities and they never changed,” the mayor said. “He loved life and was very content in his world; he loved politics and his work.”
Mayor Barletta said his uncle would tell stories about past Barletta generations and made them funny and interesting.
“He helped connect the next generation to the one before us,” Barletta said. “He will be missed.”
The mayor said Fred Barletta Sr. was a part of a generation that started from nothing and through hard work and strong family values and faith, they succeeded.
“He’s part of a great generation that we are losing,” Mayor Barletta said. “He was beloved by his family and friends. He was a unique man.”