RIP -- Frank "Spat" Federici

[richardkelsey]

Mr. Federici was a kind and generous man. He was a great father, and a wonderful piece of Freehold. May he rest in peace, and may his family take comfort in the millions of memories they will forever hold in their hearts.


Federici, Frank A. "Spat"


(Asbury Park Press)

FRANK A. "SPAT" FEDERICI
AGE: 84 FREEHOLD

Frank A. "Spat" Federici, 84, of Freehold, died peacefully on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on April 27, 1924 at Federici's Restaurant, 14 East Main Street, Freehold and remained a lifelong resident of Freehold. He was a 1941 graduate of Freehold High School.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. After serving his country he joined the family business. It was then along with his family that they created the original recipe for Federici's famous pizza. He worked at Federici's Restaurant his entire life and helped to open Federici's South Restaurant in Howell in 1984. He was a lifelong communicant of St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church, Freehold.

He served as the president of Freehold Pop Warner, manager of Freehold Little League for 11 years and coached St. Rose of Lima basketball. Spat was an avid bowler and was inducted into the Monmouth-Ocean Bowling Hall of Fame in August 1980. He enjoyed owning and watching horseracing and was a member of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 54, Freehold.

He regularly took trips to Atlantic City. He most enjoyed spending time with family and friends at his home in Freehold and summering in Manasquan. He also looked forward to relaxing vacations in Aruba.

He was predeceased by his father, Frank Federici in 1970; his mother, Ester Cirillo Federici in 1972; his brother, Dante in 1983; and a sister, Margaret Rodi in 1999. Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Patricia Cook Federici; his sons and daughters-in-law, Frank and Mary Lynn, Millstone Township, David and Lauren, Freehold Township, Michael and Nicole, Freehold, and John, Freehold; daughters and sons-in-law, Margie and Patrick Hansen and Lisa and Stephen Cook, all of Freehold Township and Tricia and Gio Webb, Freehold; a sister and brother-in-law, Beatrice and Frank Gibson, Freehold; grandchildren, Scott, Mike and Danny Hansen, Shanna and Matthew Federici, Katie and Dante Webb, Brendon and Kyle Rashley, and Patrick Federici.

The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Saturday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold on Monday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St. Rose of Lima School, 51 Lincoln Place, Freehold, NJ 07728, St. Rose of Lima Vincent de Paul Society, 16 McLean Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 or Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, Spring Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 would be appreciated.


Published in the Asbury Park Press on 4/17/2009
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[seabass]

Good man, very sorry about his passing.

[admin]

www.app.com/article/20090418/NEWS01/904180334/1285/LOCAL09

FREEHOLD — The pizza patriarch of Freehold, Frank A. "Spat" Federici, died surrounded by family Thursday.



"(It was) very peaceful. No pain," said Federici's son Michael, a co-owner of the family's popular Federici's Restaurant on East Main Street.

Federici, 84, died of complications from surgery around noon Thursday at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township. His wife, Patsy, and six of their seven children were with him when he died, Michael Federici said.

The seventh, David, had been away and was on his way home. He was unable to reach the hospital in time, Michael Federici said.

"He was . . . a legend in town," said Mayor Michael Wilson, who said he grew up on the Federici family's popular pizza.

One of Federici's proudest accomplishments, said Michael Federici, was the family's well-known thin crust pizza recipe. Federici, his brother Dante and their mother, Ester, are credited with creating the recipe in 1946, shortly after both sons returned from serving their country in World War II.

Since then, pizza has remained the family business, with son Frank Federici III and daughter-in-law MaryLynn opening Frankie Fed's in Freehold Township, and daughter Margie and son-in-law Patrick opening Federici's South in Howell.

"He had, in my opinion, the best pizza in town," said Wilson, who fondly remembered gathering as a youth at the Freehold restaurant after dances at St. Rose of Lima.

Federici worked in his restaurant from 1946 until nearly the day he died, Michael Federici said. Sixty hour-plus workweeks were not unusual for him. He later slowed down to 30-hour weeks, Michael Federici said.

Work was important to Federici, who placed a premium on providing for his family. It was a source of pride for the man that he was able to leave a successful business for his children, Michael Federici said.

"I think he learned that from his father. It was important as a man to take care of his family," Michael Federici said.

Federici was a true Freehold native. He was actually born at Federici's Restaurant, in an upstairs bedroom of the hotel the family ran for many years.

(2 of 2)


He graduated from Freehold High School in 1941. After three years of service with the Navy, he returned to join the family business.



Federici may have worked hard all his life, but he also knew how to enjoy himself.

The restaurant owner had a passion for horse racing, and he owned and raced many horses.

"He (Federici) was a tremendous individual," said Paul Wojtowicz, who started training horses for Federici in 1976.

"He loved his family, he loved his business and he loved racing horses. . . . He had a good life, and he lived it well," said Wojtowicz.

Federici was also a generous man who gave to his community by heading the Freehold Pop Warner, managing the Freehold Little League for 11 years and coaching basketball for St. Rose of Lima. He belonged to American Legion Post 54 in town, and, said Wilson, was involved in the downtown business community.

"He had a deep love for the town," said Wilson.

Viewings are scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m. today and 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street. The funeral liturgy will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Rose of Lima Roman Roman Catholic Church, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery.
Kim Predham: [phone] or [e-mail]

[momsthoughts]

Sad news. I admire his commitment to leaving a family biz for his children. Federici's pizza is such a downtown landmark - couldn't imagine the boro without it.

[admin]

Apr 19, 2009 9:01:28 GMT -5 momsthoughts said:

Sad news. I admire his commitment to leaving a family biz for his children. Federici's pizza is such a downtown landmark - couldn't imagine the boro without it.

It was very appropriate for Rich to put this topic under the history section. Who in Monmouth County hasn't heard of Federici's?

Frank and his family are without doubt a valuable piece of Freehold history as well as upstanding people to have here.

[richardkelsey]

I was fortunate enough to be in town on Saturday to pay my respects. As I expected, there was a wonderful outpouring by the town in which he lived and to which he gave so much.

[ka19]

I don't eat there nearly enough.