Pat Fedele

—Frank Sinatra

In the afternoon of Sunday, January 31, Pasquale (Pat) Fedele peacefully passed away surrounded by family and loved ones at the age of 96. He was a WWII veteran, professional vocalist, successful restaurateur, accomplished golfer, and avid sports fan. But most importantly, Pat was a beloved husband, father, and, to his grandchildren, just Baba.

Born to Italian immigrant parents in Providence, Rhode Island, Pat spent his youth at the Wanskuck Boys and Girls Club where he discovered a passion for the fine arts. A skilled artist, writer, and vocalist, Pat attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He spent his nights on the stage singing in Boston’s night clubs and his days watching Ted Williams and the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Prior to the conservatory, Pat served in the Pacific fleet during World War II, earning eleven battle stars and an honorable discharge. His experiences during the war were chronicled in Steve Kelly’s 2012 book, Baked Beans: Life Aboard CA-69. After the war, Pat relocated to Los Angeles in pursuit of a musical career where he met his “greatest gift in life,” Sandra Dubrove. They began a life together that would span the next sixty-five years.

The couple moved to Orange County and established the iconic fish and chips locale, Captain Pat’s Fish ‘N Chips on Chapman Avenue. Throughout the seventies and eighties, Pat was known for his New England-based recipes, high-quality ingredients, and entertaining hospitality. Among his many talents, Pat enjoyed playing golf and was a multi-senior club champion at Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club in Irvine. He was a decades-long loyal fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Angels and had a special talent for the game of cribbage.

Family was everything to Pat. He is survived by Sandra Fedele of Murrieta, daughters Cathy De Simone (Nick) and Sheri Lauzon (Mark), grandsons Michael Ricci (Cristina) and Daniel Milwood (Kristen Cuison), granddaughter Erin Anderson (Aaron), and four great-grandchildren, Rose Anderson, George Ricci, Alessandra Ricci, and Russell Anderson. He is preceded in death by his parents, Caterina and Cosmo DeFedele, nine siblings, and his son, Steve Fedele.

Pat will be recognized with full military honors on March 1 at Riverside National Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, services are closed to the public. To share a memory of Pat or send condolences to his family, please visit www.miller-jones.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, www.support.nmcrs.org.