Fred Richard DeRosa

Fred DeRosa passed away peacefully at home in Sun Lakes, Arizona on December 29, 2020 from heart failure. He was blessed to have recently celebrated his 92nd birthday. Alfred Richard DeRosa was born on November 16, 1928 to Pasquale and Concetta DeRosa in Chicago, Illinois. He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Georgette, daughter Doreen, his parents and brothers Paul and James. He is survived by his favorite sister Gilda, his children Concetta, Pasquale, Dina (Scott) and Dana (Adam). Fred was incredibly proud and involved in the lives of his 10 grandchildren, John Mark, Alyssa, Nathan (Marisa), Dan, Tim, Tyler, Jessica, Travis, Rhema and Amanda. He was honored to be called great grandfather to Parker, Windsor, Delilah and Colton. Despite living far away from his family, his priority was to be connected to each of them any way he could.

Fred graduated elementary school from Our Lady of Angels in Chicago in 1942, and graduated high school from St. Philip Basilica in 1946. His high school activities included football, baseball, basketball, and bowling. He was also the sports editor for the school newspaper and yearbook.

Following high school Fred became more involved in learning the family-run business, DeRosa and Sons Tailors & Cleaners. These years proved to be beneficial to his future of owning and operating several other locations throughout the Chicago suburbs, which he owned until 1983.

Fred’s love of organized sports and athletic competition continued throughout his entire life, beginning with his first bowling title. Fred was a member of the 1951 ABC World Champions Team, sponsored by C.B. O’Malley Oldsmobile in Chicago. Immediately following their big win, Fred entered the US Army for his two year enlistment during the Korean War. After completion of basic training and the basic leader course, Corporal DeRosa was assigned to be the Recreation Specialist - Athletic Supervisor at the Fort Sill Army Base in Oklahoma. This was a gratifying experience for him because of the athletes he interacted with through organizing teams, tournaments, and activities that interested and further developed their skills. In 1953, Fred was captain and team member of the Fort Sill Bowling Team that won the Fourth Army Bowling Championship in Sam Houston, TX. It was with great honor and pride that their team presented their championship trophy to Major General Arthur M. Harper.

Fred met the love of his life, his bowling beauty, Georgette Hartmann, at Bowling Lanes in Chicago in 1955. They were married January 22, 1956 at Our Lady of Angels in Chicago. They quickly started their family and continued to bowl competitively for many years. Fred bowled a perfect 300 game at G & L Bowl in the early 1960s.

Fred was a 30 year member of the IBEW Local Union 134 as a pari-mutuel clerk at Illinois racetracks and off-track parlors. Fred enjoyed the many friendships he developed with customers and coworkers over the years. What he most enjoyed was organizing and participating in the annual golf outings with family and friends of the pari-mutuel clerks.

Retirement in Sun Lakes, AZ was filled with 30 years of loving memories of family visits, golf cart rides, new friendships, dinner dances, sporting events, golf leagues and tournaments, a doubles tournament championship title, a few hole in ones, a few jobs at golf courses, a job selling golf carts, a job with Bank One Ballpark and lots of grilling and enjoying the sunshine!

Those who knew Fred loved his friendly personality, his genuine kindness and his deep affection for his family, friends and his sports. He was always entertaining and had the ability to share stories and describe his favorite foods with great detail. His memories of growing up in Chicago were always colorful, told with great enthusiasm and appreciation for his time spent in the city he loved so dearly.

A celebration of life will be held for Fred on Friday June 11th, 2021 at 11:00am at Valley of the Sun Cemetery; 10940 E Chandler Heights Rd. Chandler, Arizona 85248 in the Chapel Mausoleum. Memorial Donations may be made to Korean War Vets Chapter 132 in Chandler, Arizona.