Fred A. DeCaro Jr. passed away on Monday, February 20.
Fred was born on May 14, 1943, to Fred DeCaro and Philomena (Chiappetta) DeCaro. He grew up in North Mianus where he was surrounded by dozens of cousins who loved and supported him in a way that is lost in today’s transient society. He attended North Mianus School and Eastern Junior High and graduated from Greenwich High in 1961. He earned his B.S. in Accounting from Boston College in 1965, and his Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School in 1968. He subsequently enlisted in the Army Reserve and served as a member of the 11th Special Forces (Green Berets) for six years.
At a party of his law school classmates in 1967 Fred was introduced to the woman he would spend 53 years with. Fred married Frances Ann Henle in 1969, and their only child Fred DeCaro III was born in 1971.
During his career, Fred was a serial entrepreneur. He created, purchased, founded, and sold a series of small businesses and real estate projects including auto dealerships, a car wash, a travel agency, banks, and other entities. More important was the time he spent outside of his work, embracing his parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and his own immediate family. With effusive joy he welcomed his daughter-in-law Meg in 2005 and the birth of his two granddaughters Amy and Mary into his life. Eventually he traded in his suits and ties for goofy sweatshirts with pictures of his granddaughters that he would proudly wear on any occasion.
Fred understood sacrifice from the example of his parents, who paid for his college and law school by endorsing his mom’s paycheck and mailing it weekly to the schools. He understood his faith from the Jesuit priests at Boston College whom he bonded with. He prayed the rosary regularly.
Fred is survived by many cousins, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters, and his brother-in-law Joseph Henle who is more brother and less in-law.
Visitation will be 4:00 – 8:00 pm February 23 at Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home at 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford CT.
A funeral Mass will be 10:30 am February 24 at Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford CT.