Bernard Frezza Jr., 63, died Tuesday, May 24, 2016 after a valiant year and a half battle with pancreatic cancer, peacefully at home surrounded by his family. He was the devoted husband of Victoria M. (Leal) Frezza. They had been married for 34 years.
Born in Providence, he was a son of Grace (DiRobbio) Frezza of Boynton Beach, Fla. and the late Bernard Frezza, Sr. Bernard was a graduate of Roger Williams College, class of 1975, with a bachelor’s degree in business, administration and marketing. He later received his paralegal studies certificate in 1991. He was always passionate about his work.
He held a position as a sales representative for Beacon, ABC, Pickwick, Handleman and Lieberman Record companies, where he collected his prized gold records. He had also worked as a sales and service representative for Mastro Electric, a real estate agent for Best Realty and a paralegal for Tillinghast, Collins and Graham. He also had a long and happy career working for the State of Rhode Island, where he held the position of Director of the Office of Public Information for the Secretary of State until 2003, at which point he transitioned to the position of Legislative and Government Affairs Director for the Department of Transportation (RIDOT).
Bernard was dedicated to local government. He was a former member of the North Providence Democratic Town Committee, a chair of the Johnston Zoning Board of Review, and a member of the Johnston Democratic Town Committee. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Camp Yawgoog Alumni Association and a former assistant scoutmaster of Troop 20, Johnston. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Dillon Council and a proud supporter of the Johnston drama and music programs.
Besides his wife and mother he is survived by his children, Valerie M. Carnevale and her husband, David, of Johnston, Thomas L. Frezza and his wife, Tori, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Kimberly A. Frezza of Johnston; his beloved grandson, James Carnevale; his siblings, Sheila Grant and her husband, Michael, of East Greenwich and Mark Frezza and his wife, Lisa, of Wellington, Florida; and his dear friends, Dr. Arthur Corvese and his wife, Terry, of North Providence, and Fred Marzilli of Lincoln, both of whom he considered brothers.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, May 28 at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, 645 Hartford Avenue, Providence. Burial followed in Highland Memorial Park, Johnston. Visitation was Friday, May 27 in Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Yawgoog Alumni Association, memo to Staff Scholarship Fund, c/o PO Box 14777, East Providence RI 02914-0777.
