Community Activist Dies At 84 – Fred - You Will Be Missed

For over 21 years I've admired Fred Mazzarello's passion for his College Point community. In fact, I called him Mr. College Point. Now he is gone. How sad for all of us.
Fred died after a valiant fight to survive a massive stroke. He was 84-years-old but his energy and tireless work for his beloved community and family lasted until his last breath.
I first met Fred when John Toscano and I were about to launch our newspaper - the Whitestone/College Point Courier - 21 years ago. John knew Fred from before he retired as a political reporter for The Daily News. John had arranged for us to meet Fred because he was someone we had to know if we were going to have a newspaper serving College Point.
I remember that meeting as if it were yesterday. We met at Fred's College Point Bowling Lanes. We sat around a small table in the snack bar and we told Fred about our plans for the new publication. Fred wagged his finger at John and firmly said, &#8220You never covered us (College Point) at The Daily News. Are you going to do better now?”
We both reassured him that our grassroots reporting would contain many articles about the town he adored. (In fact, over the years, he was quoted so often on so many issues that my typesetter had his name on her computer to make sure we spelled Mazzarello correctly!)
With that said he turned to me and said, &#8220Okay, Vicki, see me about an ad for the newspaper.”
And so, Fred became my first advertiser, understanding that the ads would support the newspaper and enable us to keep publishing.
In fact, his ads remained in the newspaper until the sad day he closed his business.
Through the years, I saw firsthand his relationship with his beloved wife Helen who worked side-by-side with him at the Lanes. He seemed to have a special glow when she was in the room. He was passionate about her too.
But most of all, I saw, year in and year out, his leadership role in every issue of importance to his town.
Although he had once run and lost a race for city councilmember, I think he served College Point more intensely than any politician could have done. You see, he was focused on one thing only - College Point - and founded the College Point Board of Trade where he served as president for decades.
Many people paid tribute to Fred.
&#8220Fred Mazzarello was the embodiment of what it means to be a civic activist committed to his community,” said Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. &#8220As the leader of the College Point Board of Trade he was a passionate fighter for improving his neighborhood and ensuring that it would meet the challenges of the future. He built bridges through negotiations with all sectors of the community and will be remembered as a gentleman who earned the moniker, &#8220Mr. College Point.”
&#8220Fred was always the guy that would help he would be the guy that who would do it instead of talking about doing things,” said Thomas Palma, Chairman of the College Point Board of Trade. &#8220He was basically a one man army that accomplished a lot for College Point.”
&#8220He was always involved with senior citizens and the ambulance corps.,” Palma said. &#8220He was truly the All-American hometown boy.”
&#8220Every one knows he never took credit for himself,” Palma said. &#8220He always passed it onto the board of trade, but we all knew Fred was the organization.” He never got paid for his work for the town. It was a labor of love. The picture of him with many politicians was not ego, it was him perennially lobbying them for the town's benefit.
It is very fitting that the family has requested that donations be made in his memory to the Fred J. Mazzarello Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o the Poppenhusen Institute, 114-04 14 Road, College Point, New York 11356.
This is one of the institutions in town he advocated for, working closely with Susan Brustman, the director. It is one of the finest historic community centers in our borough.
I know I will miss seeing his smiling face in our newspaper, particularly on Memorial Day, leading the parade he coordinated for years.
Fred, I've tried to live up to your expectations. I will miss you, but more importantly, your community will miss you. Few men have had the impact you have had. Rest in peace - you have earned it!