Fabrizio Baeli

Fabrizio “Butch” Baeli, 61, passed away on Friday, March 13, 2026, peacefully at his home in Little River, SC. He was born on April 29, 1964, in Pordenone, Italy and was the oldest son of the late Luciana P. Baeli and the late Joseph R. Baeli.

As a child growing up in Park Ridge, NJ, he was an accomplished guitarist and all-around musician having studied at Woodside Music School with Gus. Into his teen years, he could be found at the Montvale Roller Rink jamming on his Les Paul at the many band sessions he and his friends had.

Butch began his career working for Rosica and Sylvan Pools in New York and New Jersey, eventually branching off and sub-contracting as an amazing swimming pool plumber. His career took a hiatus when he was diagnosed with Lupus nephritis which is a severe inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). He was an active member of the Lupus Support Group in Northern New Jersey from 1989 – 2003. He contributed much knowledge and helped so many people by the research he did.

Even with the disease, he worked a little part time, consulted on pool jobs and worked with his friend Kevin cleaning and repairing swimming pools. He also loved riding motorcycles. The speed and thrill made him feel free. Although he never taught his younger brother, Andrew, to drive a motorcycle, Butch did teach him how to drive a car.

Butch eventually moved to South Carolina and found his heart and true love caring for and teaching his nephew, Braydon, and niece, Christiana. He could be heard county-wide telling everyone how smart and amazing they were.

Butch never lost connection with some dear friends from Park Ridge High School. He would be in constant communication with Lisa, Tom P. and “Ski”. He even attended his 40th high school reunion in Park Ridge.

Butch will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He developed some deep lasting friendships while in South Carolina. Friends from Eggs Up Grill; Bri, Cadence, Migo, Jack and Tabitha among others. The waitstaff would stop everything just to see him and say “Hi”. He had a whole set of other friends from a group he joined through his friend Lisa, Joy School. And he was eternally bonded with his second mom and dad from New Jersey, Moe and Pearl Liss. He was treated like a son and so deeply cared for by both.

Fabrizio is survived by his brother Andrew and his sister-in-law, Anna; his nephew, Braydon with whom he shared his love of word puzzles and math and his niece, Christiana with whom he shared his tenacity of working hard and never quitting; cousins Lori DiGisi (Chuck), Lisa Curry, and JM Baeli (Martha). He was preceded in death by his Nonina, Teresa Bastianutto Palazzi; his paternal grandparents, Salvatore and Mary Baeli, and his mother Luciana (Lucy) and father Joseph Baeli.

No arrangements have been made as of yet. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made online at WWW.Lupus.org, in honor of Fabrizio Baeli.