Pitt, Frederick Thomas – Peacefully on February 14th in his 101st year. Beloved husband of Mona Beatrice Murphy. Loving father to Mary of Toronto; Helen and John Matthew of Port Hope; Kathy and Peter Berktold of Dornbirn, Austria; Fred of Toronto and Theresa of Berlin, Germany. Loving grandfather of Liann Berktold. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Fred was born on July 11, 1915 in London, Ontario to Sylvester and Mary Jane Waud-Pitt. He started singing as a young boy in St. Peter’s Cathedral Boys’ Choir. He was also an altar boy, and was proud to have carried the train of Bishop Michael Francis Fallon for pontifical masses. He graduated from Western University in Honours Philosophy; he was also a student for six years at St. Peter’s Seminary, London where he studied Philosophy and Theology.
During World War II, Fred served with the Knights of Columbus, Canadian Army HUTS in Canada, later joining the Infantry Signal Corps. Discharged from the army in England, he rejoined the Knights of Columbus Army HUTS, serving as an Auxiliary Officer in England, Italy (attached to the RCHA) and Holland.
Following the war, Fred was diocesan editor for several years of the Catholic Register (London edition). He was co-founder & first president of the Regis Club, a club for young people in the Catholic diocese of London, and also served for several years as president of the Holy Name Baseball League in London.
Married on October 7th, 1950, Fred and Mona shared a love of music and theatre. They performed regularly in amateur theatre in Ontario and Quebec, and were active members in the London seniors’ theatre group “The Nostalgic Thespians” or “TNTs”, for over 25 years.
Fred and Mona moved back to London from Pointe Claire, Quebec on Fred’s retirement in 1980, later moving to Southampton, Ontario where they enjoyed living on the shore of Lake Huron. In 2005 they returned to London, joining the Holy Family Parish where Fred was a reader and member of the choir.
In 2007, Fred received the special honour of 4th degree membership in the Knights of Columbus Council.
The family would like to extend thanks to the Department of Veterans Affairs for all their help and a very special thanks to the wonderful staff and care workers at Sunnybrook Veteran Centre for their incredible care.
Friends may visit on Friday, February 19, 2016 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Rosar- Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel, 467 Sherbourne St. (South of Wellesley St.) Toronto, Ont. The memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, February 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Basil’s Catholic Parish, 50 St. Joseph St., Toronto, Ont.
As an expression of sympathy donations may be made to The Canadian Red Cross Refugee Crisis Appeal.
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