Frederick M. Riccio of Chester, formerly of Amherst, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 21, at Elliot Hospital. He was 82. Fred was born April 16, 1935, in Staten Island, NY. He lived a short time in Newark, NJ before moving to Belleville, NJ where he attended Belleville public schools and graduated from Belleville High School, class of 1953. He played on two Group 4 championship basketball teams there before attending Bloomfield College, NJ where he earned a degree in business, played on the basketball team, and captained the golf team. He graduated in 1959.
In 1960 he married his childhood sweetheart, Anita, and worked in his family’s grocery business in Newark until 1967. In 1967, he took a job in pharmaceutical sales for Winthrop Laboratories, where a job promotion to Northeast regional accounts manager moved him and his family to Amherst, NH. He remained with Winthrop until 1976 when he opened Riccio’s Village Deli in Londonderry, NH, a popular eating spot which he operated and sold after 11 years. Shortly thereafter, he ventured into the retail food business, operating Fritzi Foods, Inc, for 10 years.
In his retirement years he was a fixture in his son and daughter-in-laws’ restaurant, Café Teresa, Inc. of Londonderry, helping in the kitchen, running errands, and making friends with customers.
Fred was a kind, loving, generous, funny and humble man who impacted a great number of people’s lives from his devoted family to all of his friends. He will be missed by countless people, and remembered fondly.
Fred leaves behind his beloved wife, Anita; his son Michael and his wife Judy; his son Anthony and his wife Lauren; his six grandchildren, Dominick, Finn, Sofia, Michael, Caleigh, and Alec; his beloved brother-in-laws, Dr. Orlando Manfredi and Ernest Zoppi, beloved sister-in-laws, Diana Manfredi and Elena O’Brien, one niece, 6 nephews, and 5 “granddogs”.
Per Fred’s wishes, funeral services will be private. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry is assisting the family with arrangements.