In Memoriam

Thomas Eugene Fragale

Looking back on the life of Thomas E. Fragale begins decades ago starting in July of the year 1922. As stated by the angel Clarence in Frank Capra’s movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Tom Fragale really did have a wonderful life.

Tom was born in Brooklyn, New York in the thick of the summer of 1922. His parents, Joseph and Bettina Fragale, were first generation Italian Americans.

The timing of Tom’s birth brought him in line to become a vibrant and contributing member to what is surely the greatest generation this county has ever known. Those Americans who lived and fought through the WWII years are directly responsible for the privileged and free lives that we live today. For this Tom was forever proud.

Growing up during the great depression, Tom forged powerful skills and values encompassing a strong work ethic.

His ability to craft and work with his hands in repairing and building most anything, armed him with an aura of supreme confidence to challenge most anything he put his mind to.

As a boy, Tom was a Boy Scout and quickly rose to Eagle Scout status, ultimately receiving a prestigious award as one of the Top Boy Scouts in New York.

Leaving his youth and early teens behind him, Tom would go on to become a graduate of Brooklyn College. He joined the war efforts via the US Army shortly thereafter. It was the war and WWII that likely played the most pivotal role in his life and surely how he wishes to be best remembered.

During his military training, the army sent Tom to the University of Pennsylvania to become an interpreter and translator for the different and potential expanding theaters of the war. His unit of the calvary might be called to negotiate an escalation of conflicts into China...There he would have worked on a team of instructors to teach the Chinese how to transport military supplies across the rugged China countryside by horse. Such never came to be but in preparation, Tom learned to speak many dialects of Chinese and in the end gained a command of seven languages.

Later he attended Military Intelligence School at Camp Ritchie, MD to consolidate all his garnered skills for use in the collection of military intelligence for the headquarters of the Pacific. Soon thereafter, Tom was a part of General McArthur’s intelligence group at the supreme command for allied forces in the Pacific.† He served in the Philippines and later in occupied Japan employing his skills as an interpreter and translator advanced echelon.

Highly decorated, his medals include:

• Philippine Liberation Medal

• Japanese Occupation Medal

• Asiatic Pacific Victory Medal

• WWII Victory Medal

• American Campaign Medal

• Army Good Conduct Medal

Following his military career, a 'best' friendship made during war times took Tom to Philadelphia and ultimately to a small town in Pennsylvania. It was here that he was introduced to his future wife Evelyn. It was love at first sight — and two children, Mark and Susan, were later the product of their everlasting love.

Tom became a builder for 40 years of fine homes throughout Long Island. During this time, Tom and Evie left Brooklyn to build a home they purchased in Garden City in 1951. They lived there happily together with their family for 54 years.

Thomas Eugene Fragale would want to be best remembered as a loving husband, father and provider to his family . . . and would ask that you remember him as a soldier.

......

Robert T. McAleer

Mr. McAleer, age 72, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida passed away at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center on December 8, 2004 after suffering a heart attack. He was a graduate of Bucknell University with a Bachelors degree in commerce and finance. After an extended career on Wall Street, Mr. McAleer, formerly of Garden City, moved to Florida in 1987. He was co-founder and Managing Director of Southeast Research Partners, Boca Raton, which was later acquired by Ryan Beck & Co. He retired in 2000. Mr. McAleer was an avid golfer, former member of Garden City Golf Club and an active member of Old Marsh Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens. He was a communicant of Saint Patrick Catholic Church.

A loving husband and father, Mr. McAleer is survived by his wife and true love of 37 years, Teresa (nee Anderson) McAleer, daughter, Dana Wallace and son-in-law, Shane Wallace, and grandson, James Wallace of Greenwich, Connecticut; son, Robert C. McAleer and daughter-in-law, Annsley McAleer of Boston, Massachusetts; and two brothers: Charles Pinello and Peter Pinello of Jupiter, Florida.

Those planning an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, are asked to consider contributions in memory of Mr. McAleer to ARC Youth Division, 50 Glennville Street, Greenwich, Ct. CT 06831.