Obituary of Fred Cerbo

FRED CERBO. a lifelong resident and former Mayor of Hackensack, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 24, 2012, at his home, at the age of 87 years. He graduated from Hackensack High School in 1943 where he was named All State Baseball Pitcher. An Army Veteran of World War II, he served in the 35th Infantry under the command of General George Patton. After the war he played minor league baseball and became the Hackensack High School Baseball Coach in 1955 and St. Mary’s High School Baseball Coach in 1956. Prior to retiring in 1980, he had an extensive career with the United States Postal Service, beginning as a letter carrier in 1946, becoming a customer service representative in 1970, and manager of retail sales and service in 1975. He began his public service career with the Hackensack City Council and was elected and served as Mayor from 1981 – 1989. In June of 1982 he served as a Bergen County Freeholder. He wrote “My formula is Service to God, Service to People and Good Old Fashioned Hard Work.” He was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s R. C. Church of Hackensack. He was a member and past president of the Troast Athletic Club of Hackensack who named him Civic Man of the Year both in 1964 and 1980. He also was the recipient of the Hadassah Service Award in 1982, Man of the Year Award from both the City of Hackensack for Baseball of Hackensack in 1965 and Hackensack High School Alumni in 1966. In 1971 he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at Hackensack High School and the Bergen County Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975. He was past president of the Hackensack Board of Education, director of the Bergen County Action Program and served on the Hackensack Planning Board, Public Library Board, Youth Guidance Council, Hackensack Welfare Board and the Bergen County Transportation Coordination Committee. He also was an organizer of the Hackensack Recreation Committee and the Rent Stabilization Board. He was a member of the Bergen County Mayor’s Association, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Hackensack, the National Letter Carriers and Federal Retired Employees Associations, Past President and member of the Hackensack Chapter of Unico, Hackensack High School Alumni Association, the American Legion, V.F.W., Am-Vets, Baseball of Hackensack and Hackensack Little League. Beloved husband of 60 years to the late Alice J. (nee Byelat) 2007. Loving father of Fred A. Cerbo and Richard L. Cerbo, both of Hackensack. Grandfather of Melissa. Dearest brother of Angelo Cerbo , Aldo Cerbo and the late John Cerbo and Louis Cerbo. Fred is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. The Funeral on Thursday, August 30th, at 8:45 AM from the G. Thomas Gentile Funeral Home, 397 Union Street, Hackensack. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph's R. C. Church, 460 Hudson Street, Hackensack at 10:00 AM with burial following at Maple Grove Park Cemetery, Hackensack. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6:00 – 9:00 PM. In lieu of Flowers memorial donations to the Troast Athletic Club Inc., 74 Troast Street, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601, would be appreciated.