Alfred Fregly - Obituary

lfred (Al) R. Fregly, son of Italian immigrants Alphonse and Maria Fregly, was born on May 4, 1928 in Patton PA. He had three older siblings, Joseph, Lucy and Gilbert (Bert) and a twin, Clorinda. Only Bert is still alive. Al remembered his childhood as a happy one full of adventures and explorations. It was tough being raised in the Depression as his father, a storekeeper and barber, did what was necessary to take care of his large family. Around 1939 the family moved to Warren, Ohio, a prosperous place even in hard times. After high school graduation and his 17th birthday, Al joined the Navy in June of 1945 and served for over a year before being honorably discharged. He then attended college at Syracuse University, Kent State University, and eventually the University of Houston where he received a PhD in Clinical Psychology. While doing his residency at a hospital in Galveston, TX in 1955, Al met his future wife Gladys Brossette at a hospital sponsored picnic. By January of 1956 the two were married and immediately started a family while Al launched his career. Within a few years they moved to Pensacola, FL and then Gulf Breeze FL where they raised their six children, Mark, Thomas, Andrew, Phillip, Suzanne and John, all of whom survive Al and Gladys. Al practiced as a clinical psychologist before changing to vistubular research for the Navy. In 1975 Al became a research program manager with AFOSR at Bowling Air Force Base. This prompted moving his family to Fort Washington, Maryland. It was there that his children became adults and he continued to live happily after retiring from AFOSR around 1990. The last years of his life were an up and down time for him as he had recurrent health problems and experienced the loss of Gladys to cancer in September, 2007. Perhaps the greatest joy in his last years was finding love with his wife Tricia and marrying her in the Catholic Church in January, 2008. Al and Tricia continued to live in Fort Washington, attending both Baptist and Catholic services together until his health no longer allowed it. Al was a much loved and respected man. He was proud that he raised his children to be good and productive people. He deeply loved both of the women he married. He was a homebody who got to see the world as part of his work. He had a passion for classical music and his pets, with the most recent one, Rocky, perhaps being his favorite. He had a penchant for writing as his email correspondence demonstrated to his many friends. Over the years he wrote thousand of poems and limericks along with a unique book-length dialogue. His family appreciated him for this, knowing that their jesting comments related to his prolific output were well received. Al was ready to go at the time of his death, having a strong belief in God and where he was headed. He was at peace with the people in his life after having final communications with them and expressing the love he felt for them. He was the rare man who leaves this earth on his own terms without fear or remorse, but rather looking to the end of physical misery and anticipating what awaits. This world lost a good man when “Ole Al” departed. May we go where he went. On Saturday, January 21, 2012; the beloved husband of Tricia Minor-Fregly and the late Gladys Fregly; father of Mark, Tom(Melissa), Andy, Phil and John Fregly and Suzanne (Andrew) Fitzgerald; brother of Bert Fregly; grandfather of Sam and David. He is also survived by many other relatives and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to Al's Life Celebration on Friday, January 27 from 5pm until time of service at 6pm at Ft. Washington Baptist Church, 11516 Ft. Washington Rd,. Ft. Washington, MD 20744. Interment Private.