Al Frezza, 87
The following appears in the Thursday, December 10, 2015 editions of the Medford Daily Mercury & Malden Evening News
– Stephen Freker
One of our most prominent and beloved local citizens, who spent his life reporting on the events of the day in several communities, then working both behind the scenes and on the front lines of bettering state and local government passed away on Tuesday.
Word has been received that longtime former Executive Editor of the Malden Evening News, Medford Daily Mercury and the former Melrose Evening News, Alphonse ‘Al’ Frezza, died on Tuesday as a result of injuries from a fall at his longtime Medford home. He was 87.
Mr. Frezza, a 1945 Medford High graduate and lifelong Medford resident, was a 27-year newspaperman, and then a longtime fixture at the State House in Boston, serving in many roles, including for many years as press secretary to then Speaker George Keverian in the 1980s and early 1990s.
A longtime familiar face in and around Medford, at Medford City Hall and the State House in Boston, he served as a valued mentor and advisor officially and unofficially to many residents of Medford in both the political ranks and not as was regarded as one the biggest boosters and fans of Medford High School athletics for over 60 years.
A longtime trusted reporter and editor, many considered Mr. Frezza a sentinel of all things Medford for many years.
“He (Mr. Frezza) helped so many people. He was my mentor many years ago as a Medford City Councilor,” retired Judge Paul Cavanaugh told these newspapers yesterday. “He was a fixture at Medford City Hall and then at the State House. When he was covering Medford city politics he was a watchdog for the people of Medford.”
“He was loved by many and will be greatly missed,” Cavanaugh said yesterday, “I am proud to say he was my best friend.”
Mr. Frezza started his newspaper career as a part-time sportswriter for the Medford Daily Mercury in the early 1950s and quickly rose through the ranks under the guidance of legendary longtime former Malden Evening News and Medford Daily Mercury owner and publisher, the late David Brickman.
Mr. Frezza first became Sports Editor of the newpapers through the 1960s and early 1970s, chronicling particularly the exploits of hundreds of Medford High and neighboring Malden student-athletes.
In the early 1970s, he was named managing editor of the Medford Daily Mercury and soon after was appointed Executive Editor of all three newpapers then published by Mr. Brickman, the Mercury and also the Malden Evening News and former Melrose Evening News.
He continued in that role until 1980, when Mr. Frezza resigned his post at the newspapers to accept an appointment by then House Speaker Thomas McGee as a senior administrative assistant to the committee on state administration.
At the time, the committee on state administration was headed by former Rep. Angelo Marotta, D-Medford. Mr. Frezza soon became principal administrative assistant to the House Committee on Transportation and to the majority whip, a role held by Rep. Marotta at various times under Speaker McGee.
In 1985, when Rep, George Keverian, D-Everett, replaced McGee as Mass. House Speaker, he appointed Mr. Frezza as his press secretary and he remained a close advisor to Speaker Keverian through the latter’s tenure into the early 1990s.
Mr. Frezza has served on many committees and has advised many organization for many years in and around Medford, including serving on the Medford Board of Park Commissioners for many years in the 1970s and 1980s, including as chairman. He served eight years on the former Boston Arena Authority. Mr. Frezza in the past served as a corporator of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital; and the former Medford Savings Bank.
He has also received numerous awards and recognitions throughout the years, including a 1961 naming as one of 10 Outstanding Young Men by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. In 1973, Mr. Frezza was awarded the Allan B. Rogers Memorial Award for the Best Editorial on a Local Subject in a New England Daily, any size by United Press International (UPI), for an editorial which maintained that school contract negotiations are the public’s business.
In 1979, the Massachusetts High School Football Association honored him with its media award for his support of schoolboy football.
In 2006, Mr. Frezza was inducted into the Mustang Hall of Fame for Distinguished Service to Medford High School Athletics.
In 2014, Mr. Frezza was inducted into the Intercity League Hall of Fame for Media Excellence.
Mr. Frezza is predeceased by his dear brother Gene R. Frezza and sister Pamela A. Frezza. Al leaves his many cousins, including Thelma DeLucia, Thomas Zero and is also survived by many loving and dear friends.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to visit at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Saturday morning, December 12th from 8:30 thru 10:30 followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High Street, Medford, at 11 AM. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery.