Fred A Bortolussi Jr, age 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 10, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts on September 14, 1934 to the late Fred and Eureka (Travaglini) Bortolussi. Fred was a beloved son, husband, father and grandfather. He was kind and caring and very devoted to family.
During his early years, Fred found his love for basketball and played all through high school at Framingham High. He was a star Forward for the Framingham Flyers and was known for his great leaping, rebounding and sharp shooting abilities.
Fred was enrolled in the technical vocational program where he became skilled in carpentry, mechanics and construction and he graduated in 1952. Continuing his education, Fred went to the Wentworth Institute of Technology. There, he was a two sport star athlete in both basketball and baseball and he earned his Associates Degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering in 1954. After that, Fred went on to Boston College after proudly receiving a 4-year scholarship for his skills on the basketball court. He played as a Forward for the BC Eagles and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1958. After his time on the BC basketball team, Fred played semi-pro basketball for several company sponsored teams in the Boston MetroWest area such as Shock Auto Body, Columbus Society, Union House and Monnick Supply.
In the summer of 1961, Fred met the love of his life, Pauline T. Carey (Polly) at the Surry Room in Falmouth. He asked her to dance and that was the beginning of a lifetime of love. They were engaged shortly after and married on May 5, 1962 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Walpole. They made their married home in Walpole where they stayed for 57 years and raised their two sons Stephen and Jay and their daughter Christen.
Fred led a highly successful career putting his technical engineering and business backgrounds to use. He worked for Bethlehem Steel, General Dynamics and Raytheon Corporation. At Raytheon he was Manager of Financial Analysis. He worked there for 33 years and retired at age 60 in 1994. While working at Raytheon, Fred studied part time at Babson College going to classes at night. He earned his Master of Business Administration Degree with honorary distinction in 1977. In 2004, at his 50th Black and Gold Dinner at Wentworth he received an honorary Bachelor’s Degree. Also, in that year he was inducted into the Wentworth Sports Hall of Fame.
Fred was extremely proud of his nine beautiful grandchildren: Jessica, Jason, Jenna, Calum, Cameron, Heather, Nathan, Matthew and Noah. He was affectionately known as Papa. He always loved hearing about their achievements in school, sports, horseback riding, scouts, music, work and so on. He thoroughly enjoyed going to their many sporting events and activities at school.
All through the years, Fred strived to be physically active and athletic. He continued to play basketball well into his sixties ! He was extremely handy and skilled and could always be found working on projects at home. In fact, at the house in Walpole, he finished the upstairs and the basement and also built the Family room, the Florida room and the shed in the backyard. He enjoyed spending nice family time with Polly, his children and his grandchildren at the houses in Walpole, the Cape and in Norfolk. He and Polly were very active and had a large group of very close friends whom they would go with to dinners, dance events and parties. Fred lived life to the fullest !
Fred will always be remembered for his love and devotion to family, his love for the game of basketball, his competitive spirit, his zest for life, his drive to succeed in sports, academics and career, and his wonderful kindness and generosity.
Fred is survived by his wife Pauline of Norfolk, MA; his son Stephen, wife Alison and their children Calum, Cameron and Heather of Westford, MA; his son Jay, wife Kim and their children Jessica, Jason and Jenna of Andover MA; his daughter Christen, husband Russ and their children Nathan, Matthew and Noah of Norfolk, MA.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Fred’s Life Celebration on Monday, December 19, 2022, from 4 to 7 PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.
All are invited to gather in the funeral home on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at 9:30 AM prior to Fred’s Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated in Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond Street, Walpole on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow in Saint Francis Cemetery in Walpole.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Fred’s memory to the Amyloidosis Research Consortium, 320 Nevada St, Newton, MA 02460 or arci.org
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