Frederick Brasco

Weston – Mr. Frederick Brasco, World War II veteran, community leader and floral industry executive, died at his home in Weston on April 12, 2016.

Mr. Brasco was born on April 24, 1926, the son of Leo and Marguerite Brasco of Newton. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in 1943 and served in Greenland during World War II.

Immediately after the war, Mr. Brasco returned to Newton and founded Frederick Brasco Florist, Inc. in Waltham. The business was started in 1924 by his father. In 1954, Mr. Brasco founded Bay State Florist Supply in Waltham. He served as Chairman of the Board and President for over 40 years. Under Mr. Brasco's leadership, this business grew to become one of the largest wholesale florist businesses in the Northeast. It was later combined with other wholesaling operations and the combined entity was brought public in the late 1990's.

Mr. Brasco served for a number of years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Waltham Hospital. He was member of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital advisory board. He also served as a director of the Waltham Citizens National Bank, the Community National Bank and Sterling Bank. He was a president of the Waltham/West Suburban Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he was a member of numerous industry, community and civic organizations. Mr. Brasco was for many years active at Saint Julia's Church in Weston and prior to that at Sacred Heart Church in Waltham. Mr. Brasco was also a director of the Leland Home in Waltham.

Mr. Brasco was deeply devoted to his family. Survivors include his wife of sixty-six years, Carmela (Costa) Brasco; his children, Frederick J. Brasco and his wife, Theresa, of Weston, Connecticut, Joanne M. Lingerfelt of Nashua, New Hampshire, Thomas C. Brasco and his wife, Susan, of Bronxville, New York, Barbara A. Mele and her husband, Peter, of Hopewell Junction, New York and Patricia A. Howe and her husband, Kenneth, of Nashua, New Hampshire; his sister, Helen Bateson of Lexington; eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He was also the father-in-law of the late Michael Lingerfelt and a brother of and the late Salvatore, Albert, George and James Brasco.

Family and friends will honor and remember Fred's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, April 15th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Julia's Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Floral remembrances are gladly received. Also, contributions may be made to Team Rubicon.