Robert Edward Freaney Sr

Colonel (USAF Retired) Robert Edward Freaney, Sr. passed away on May 11th, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of 93. He was born on July 22nd, 1930, in Bradford, Pennsylvania to his parents, Thomas Joseph Freaney, Sr. and Bridget “Delia” Dwyer. He spent his childhood years in Bradford where he graduated from St. Bernard’s Catholic High School in 1948. From there he graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1952. After graduation from Temple, he entered the United States Air Force, completed Officer Training and Pilot Training, which led to a distinguished 30-year career in the USAF, retiring as a Full Colonel.

Shortly after entering the USAF, he married Louise Vivian Palazzetti in June 1954, and was married to her for 60 years. Louise preceded him in death in April of 2014. Along the way they had four sons, Robert Edward Freaney, Jr., James Joseph Freaney, David Thomas Freaney, and Mark Stephen Freaney, whom he guided through life, with all of them graduating from the University of South Carolina. While in the USAF, he was selected to attend the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Economics in 1972.

Robert was a lifelong and devout Roman Catholic, as was his wife, Louise. His lifelong hobbies included playing basketball and jogging. In his later years, in his adopted home in Las Vegas, NV, he enjoyed relaxing, golfing, working out at the gym, and was known to visit his favorite casino, the Suncoast, with his wife, kids, and friends on a frequent basis. His military achievements were numerous, and included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.

Robert is survived by his four sons, Robert E. Freaney, Jr., James Joseph Freaney, David Thomas Freaney (Pamela), and Mark Stephen Freaney. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and Pamela’s sister Shirley Cooper who was his caretaker in the final years of his life. He is preceded in death by his wife Louise Vivan Freaney, two brothers, Thomas Freaney, Jr. and Patrick (Patsy) Freaney, twin sister Betty Rowand (Freaney), and infant sister Donna Delores Freaney.

In his last written correspondence to his sons he wrote, “Concentrate on your futures and move on. Mom and I had a marvelous life together and, if we had to do it all over, we would not change a single thing. Ours was a love and a life made in heaven…Cheers!”