Frederick Anthony DeLuca

Born on August 6, 1927, to Henry and Clara, Fred was raised in New York City with his two older brothers, Bobby and Charlie.

After graduating from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1945, Fred enlisted in the U.S. Navy and began his military career on the U.S.S. Antietam as a Hospital Corpsman in October 1945. The war was over so his time in the Navy was short and relatively painless, and he was honorably discharged in 1947.

Fred returned home and enrolled in college New York City at Long Island University, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism.

Fred‘s passion for sports and writing made it easy for him to decide he wanted to get into the newspaper field. Specifically, sports, a match made in heaven for him. He was thrilled to start his first job with the International News Service in 1951 as a copy boy. He was thrilled to get his foot in the door and eventually promoted to sports writer and going to report on games. He took great pride in the fact that he interviewed the likes of Mickey Mantle and Yogu Berra. One of the highlights of his career was an interview he did with the great Jackie Robinson. In 1958, Fred left the newspaper business for a job as a Public Relations man for the American Council of Life Insurance (ACLI). He had changed careers for his other match made in heaven, his wife Anita, and his daughters. He wanted to have a 9-to-5 job, which gave him much more time to spend with his wife and young family.

It was the Spring of 1944 on 59th St. when Fred saw Anita for the first time, dressed in a blue gingham dress and her hair in pigtails. She was 14, he was 16. Fred described it like being hit by a thunderbolt, like Michael Corleone in “the Godfather.“ Their love for each other grew and on September 3, 1949, they were married at Saint James Episcopal church in Elmhurst, New York. Fred was elated to marry into this large, loving Italian family. Fred and Anita moved into their first home in Forest Hills in March 1954. In 1955 they were blessed with their first daughter Nina, appropriately born on Christmas Day. Donna and Kathy followed closely behind, in 1957 and 1959. Life was good in Forest Hills, great place to raise a family, but unfortunately in 1977 Fred‘s job was transferred to Washington D.C. With only 10 more years until retirement Fred and Anita decided to move to Virginia. He lived the last 46 years of his life in Virginia but his love of NYC lived on in his blood forever.

Fred retired from ACLI in 1988, after 30 years of service. In those golden years Anita and Fred continued their love of travel to many places, often traveling with family or good friends. Primarily, there were many more trips to Italy, this was their favorite place to be. The family’s favorite was the 18 years of annual trips to Bethany Beach, with their girl’s families. Many happy memories were made jumping waves, pontooning, and crabbing, picking crabs, and eating crabs.

Fred especially will be remembered for his kind disposition, his sense of humor, and his love of people and life. As a father, Fred taught the meaning of love through his kindness and devotion to his family. He enjoyed visiting his relatives, playing bridge, having the Big 8 dinners, art museums, and going out to the ballpark, forever a devoted N.Y. Mets and Giants fan. He had a strong connection to his Episcopal faith and belief in God which started as a young boy at St. Thomas Chapel in Manhattan. His church family at Emmanuel Episcopal were a great support and we’re a special part of his life. Fred’s thoughts, feelings, and memories are part of all of us who knew him, and his spirit will live on through the love we feel for him. Fred will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts.

Fred is survived by his three daughters, Nina DeLuca-Phillips (Jim), Donna Pena (Tom), and Kathy Blystone (Andy). Eight grandchildren Brian Foley (Yuki), Christina Havenner (Justin), Steven Pena (Alicia), Danny Pena (Dawn), Thomas Pena (Corinne), Louisa Blystone, Tory Caudill (Chad), and Dallas Phillips. Fifteen great-grandchildren, Anthony, Luna, Freddy, Leonardo, Soleil, Lucas, Dante, Derek, Joey, Logan, Bodhi, Echo, Ava, Charlotte, and Violet. Predeceased by his wife, Anita, the love of his life for 56 years of marriage, his brothers, Bobby and Charlie, and many other family and friends who he missed dearly through the years. Family was the most important part of his life and he would want you to know he loved all of you.