Frederick L. Tomassi "Freddy Thomas"

Frederick L. Tomassi "Freddy Thomas"

Frederick L. Tomassi known to all by "Freddie Thomas", died peacefully at the age of 87 at Pleasant Ridge Manor West on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Born in a log cabin in Cabin Creek, West Virginia on January 25, 1922, his Italian immigrant parents, the late Guiseppe Tomassi and Saveria Cicco Tomassi, moved their family to Erie in 1924. He was the 10th child born of 12 children, and the last surviving child of his late parents.

He graduated from Academy High School in 1939. A veteran of the United States Coast Guard in World War II, "Freddie" enrolled at Gannon College on the GI Bill and graduated from Gannon with a four year Business Degree in three years.

The owner of a number of different restaurants in the city of Erie, he was best known for the Office Lounge on Peach Street, between 8th & 9th (razed for city redevelopment years ago), and Fredrico's Ports of Call, on West 18th Street, between Peach and Sassafras. He retired from Pleasant Ridge Manor as it's purchasing agent.

He was a life member of the Maennerchor Club, and avid reader, and enjoyed travel. He was also a lifelong member of the "Cherry Street Gang" and the "Ice House Gang," both childhood groups from Little Italy. He was a member of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by five brothers, Carmen, Angelo, Dicky, Eugene and Frank and six sisters, Mary, Margaret, Lucy, Nettie, Helen, and Vita, and his wife of 36 years, Irvine Grillo Tomassi.

He is survived by his son Dr. Frederick (Rick) Joseph Tomassi and his wife Sandy, and his daughter, Dana Maria Russo and her husband, James, all of Erie. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Saveria and Anna Russo, a sister-in-law, Dolores "Dee Dee" Grillo Cox and her husband, Harry Cox, and a niece, Pamela Cox Miller. He is also survived by his special friend, Carol Turick and many loving, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Friends may call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, Monday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. And are invited to attend a service there on Tuesday At 9:30 a.m. Followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 1617 Walnut Street, at 10:00 a.m Entombment will be in Calvary Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Neighborhood Free Clinic, 1608 Walnut Street, Erie, PA 16502.