Fred LaPorte

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Fred LaPorte on January 20, 2016 at the age of 93.

Fred was born on September 25, 1922 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Sicilian immigrants Carmelo and Josephine LaPorte. The youngest of 8 children, Fred was preceeded in death by brothers Tony, Mike, Phil and Joe and sisters Sarah, Nellie and Victoria.

Fred grew up in a loving and bustling household and despite the hardships of the depression, the family never went without the basic necessities. Fred had a passion for music which began at the early age of 4. At his mother’s encouragement he would spend hours listening to records on the family’s hand cranked Victrola. This was the beginning of a life-long love of music and singing. He joined his first big band at 18 as a vocalist and later performed in nightclubs with many famous entertainers including Patti Page, while also pursuing an engineering career.

God blessed Fred with a beautiful voice which he shared at hundreds of family celebrations and special occasions. Fred’s special voice will be missed at St. Jude’s Church where he was a Sunday Cantor and choir member for decades. Fred also led the annual men’s retreat to Serra Retreat House in Malibu. Fred’s music ministry extended to dozens of nursing homes, senior centers and assisted living facilities throughout the region where he brought joy and comfort for over 30 years to thousands of residents with his smooth vocals and charming personality.

Following his graduation from Lincoln High School where he was a star football player, Fred joined the U.S. Army in 1943 serving in England, France and Germany during World War II. In addition to his military duties he also served as an interpreter for Italian POWs and as an entertainer for American troops. After the war and upon his return to Milwaukee, Fred married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Phyllis Orlando in June 1946. Like so many couples after the war, Phyllis and Fred moved to California and raised 4 children living in the San Fernando Valley. In 1977 Phyllis and Fred moved to a lakeside home in Westlake Village where Fred happily captained his party boat at every opportunity.

Continuing a career that he started at an early age, Fred was an accomplished tool designer for several years. Changing careers, he became a successful insurance agent in the 1960’s and continued in insurance sales until his retirement.

After 45 years of marriage, Fred’s wife Phyllis was called to heaven at the early age of 67. Despite his grief, Fred continued to keep busy joining the Conejo Valley Harmony Oaks Barbershop Chorus, playing golf, poker and shooting pool with his numerous friends. He was fortunate to meet Arline McDonald, a friend and fellow parishioner at St. Jude’s and a romance blossomed. Fred and Arline were married in April 1994. Together, they led a very busy life, traveling, volunteering their time feeding the homeless, continuing their ministries at St. Jude’s and enjoying time with their children and grandchildren.

Fred made friends everywhere he went. We will all miss his warm smile, magical voice, kind and generous heart, and sense of humor. Most important, he will be remembered for his devout faith and his love of family. To quote Fred “Keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart.”

Fred is survived by his 4 children, Mary Jo Cullum (Chuck), Carl “Chuck” LaPorte (Shirley), Cindy Warfield (Richard), Lilyanne Stilz (Richard), and his 8 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; wife Arline and her 3 children, Jeannette, Tom, Martha and her 18 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.

A Rosary will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church in Westlake Village on Friday January 29 at 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church in Westlake Village on Saturday January 30 at 10:00 AM. Please join us to continue celebrating Fred’s life at a reception at the Westlake Village Inn immediately following interment at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fred’s memory to Mary Health of the Sick, 2929 Theresa Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320 www.maryhealth.com.