Alfred (Fred) Ermond Santoro
Alfred "Fred" Ermond Santoro III, of Audubon, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully at Einstein Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, August 20, 2017. He was 69.
Fred was born and raised in Norristown, Pa., and attended Holy Savior Elementary School and graduated from Bishop Kenrick High School in 1965. He received his associates degree from Temple University, his bachelors from the University of New York and his MBA from Boston University.
A loyal and steadfast man, Fred believed in the value of hard work and service to others. These traits were visible throughout his entire career. He started early at the age of eight with his ‘red wagon grocery delivery service’, carrying goods from the local supermarket to his neighbors. Following high school and while attending Temple University, he attended Officers’ Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia before joining the United States Army. Fred led a distinguished career as a rotary and fixed wing pilot serving for 20+ years and retiring as a CW-4. During his time in the Army, he often was responsible for the transport of military and civilian high command during his postings at Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir, VA and the 207th Aviation Company in Heidelberg, Germany. His last posting was with the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne, Fort Campbell, KY. He was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star with Valor, and three Purple Hearts, among many other awards and commendations. Fred cherished the friends he made during his military service and stayed in touch with many of them over the years. He was especially close to his fellow pilots and veterans Bob (Nancy) Hartley, Jim (Yong) Greer, Paul (Janice) Gritz, and Wally (Theresa) Knight.
Following his retirement from the U.S. Army, Fred returned home to the suburban Philadelphia area where he continued his career in service to others. He became the director of Human Resources with Upper Merion Township, where he served for 14 years prior to retiring in 2013.
Fred had a number of hobbies; he particularly enjoyed fishing and built his own fly rods and tied his own flies. Over the years, he enjoyed taking fishing trips with his son, other family members and friends, traveling to places like Ireland, Alaska, the Florida Keys, and Hawaii. He also was a prolific golfer who enjoyed time at the Shannondell (formerly George Washington) course in Audubon, PA. In recent years, his family held a tournament at Shannondell, “The Gus Open”, in Fred’s honor to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Research.
Fred is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Michele Chiaradonna Santoro, his two children Jennifer (Trey) Stanley of Chattanooga, and Fred Santoro, IV of Trappe, Pa., and, his brothers James (Danny) and Carl (Lisa) Santoro, his sister Josephine (Dennis) Every, his brothers-in-law Michael (Debra) and Albert (Kristy) Chiaradonna and his sister-in-law Ursula Chiaradonna. He especially loved and was proud of his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Santoro, Jr. and Anne Wielgus Santoro, and his brother Ronald.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Volpe Funeral Home at 707 West Germantown Pike, East Norriston, Pa. A second visitation will be held at 9-10 a.m. prior to the funeral service at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, and a visitation BVM at 196 North Trooper Road, Norristown, Pa. Burial and accompanying service with full military honors will occur at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Home Base, an organization supporting veterans, service members and their families suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other invisible wounds. Donations may be sent to Home Base, MGH Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114.