DelGrosso

BELLWOOD — The Bellwood-Antis community has lost a longtime supporter.

Frederick J. DelGrosso, 77, of Tipton died Sunday at UPMC Altoona.

DelGrosso was one of the owners of the DelGrosso Family of Companies started by his parents, Fred and Mafalda DelGrosso.

(See obituary, page A4.)

“He was very faithful to carrying out his mother and father’s legacy. He dealt bravely and courageously with the illnesses he had to contend with. He was a very kind, loving and unselfish family man,” said Sister Paula DelGrosso, his cousin.

“He was a fine gentleman who so well represented and truly lived his love for family and community. He was a marvelous guy,” said local broadcaster Roger Corey, who had known DelGrosso for many years. “He was a big support­er of the business community. If you were a businessman, he was there to support you whether you were big or small. He was always willing to try and make things better.”

Fred was a son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, according to a statement issued by the DelGrosso family.

“For countless foodies around the country, he is best known as the creator of Uncle Fred’s Fireworks Sauce, a recipe he created over 30 years ago for family and friends. Fred’s happiest moments involved treasured family meals with delicious food. His legacy now lives on with his family,” the statement read.

Former state Rep. and state Secretary of Agriculture Samuel Hayes Jr. was a longtime friend.

“Fred DelGrosso was a great person. His interests were pure,” Hayes said. “He wanted to help people and did so through 4-H and FFA. He and I were good friends. He was a good person who wanted to make the community better.”

Hayes called the DelGrosso story “the American dream.”

“His mom and dad started with little or nothing and made a life for themselves and their family,” Hayes said. “Fred was a steady person, a clear-thinking person. Fred wanted to make the business and the community better.”

DelGrosso had a keen interest in agriculture.

“In his early days, Fred was an aggie. When he was younger, he had world-class purebred pigs. His Yorkshires and Hampshires were known across the eastern United States and America. He was an aggie at heart. He showed them all across the country and brought home the rosettes,” Hayes said. “I worked with him closely. He thought about the future of agriculture. He was very pronounced in helping 4-H and FFA members.”

DelGrosso was a big supporter of Bellwood-Antis and Penn State athletic teams, longtime friend Carl DeCaspers said, adding, “We go back to when I was coaching at Bellwood-Antis (1969-71). I had his brother, Bo, on the team. He was a big supporter for me, the team and the school.”

The two were close friends, DeCaspers said.

“We went to a lot of Penn State basketball games together. He was such a big booster to Penn State. He was close to coaches such as Jerry Dunn and Patrick Chambers. We would go over and watch practices,” DeCaspers said. “We had a wonderful relationship. I loved him.”

DelGrosso helped many people, DeCaspers said.

“He always thought of others first rather than himself — how generous was the guy. Fred was a champion of that. There are so many people he helped. He was always thoughtful of others,” DeCaspers said.

“I will miss him,” he added. “Every time we take our grandkids to the (DelGrosso’s) park or go to a Penn State basketball game, I will think of him. He was a wonderful man and a great guy.”

Friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bellwood. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at the church.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.