Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, November 30, 2009 at 04:31:23 :
Marin Independent Journal
Monday, October 28, 1985
FRED POLIZZI DIES
Santa of Sixth Street
Fred Polizzi of San Rafael, the Santa Claus of Sixth Street in San Francisco, died Sunday at Ross General Hospital after a brief illness. He was 69.
Mr. Polizzi, honored earlier this month as the Marin Italian-American Citizen of the Year, became a San Francisco legend by passing out free sandwiches and minestrone to the poor on Christmas for the past 30 years.
Though Mr. Polizzi recently became seriously ill, he had wanted to carry on with his holiday tradition. His wife, Lee, said she hopes to continue his tradition this year.
Mr. Polizzi also has raised thousands of dollars for St. Vincent School for Boys in San Rafael. The school honored him this year as its top volunteer.
“There is a beauty to this man,” George Silvestri Jr. said about Mr. Polizzi during a Columbus Day celebration. Mr. Polizzi, a native of Capizzi, Sicily, came to America at the age of 6. He grew up in Oglesby, Ill.
During World War II, he fought in France and Germany.
In 1946, he moved to San Francisco and opened Fred’s liquor and grocery store. About 25 years ago, he came to San Rafael and continued to operate his San Francisco business. He opened Fred’s Old Town Liquors in Novato about 10 years ago.
His humanitarian work has won him a host of honors. Marin Catholic High School recognized him for furthering the study of the Italian language. The state Assembly and Senate honored him with plaques.
Mr. Polizzi was a member of the San Rafael Rotary Club, Club Italia, San Rafael Lions Club, Cristoforo Colombo Club of Marin and the San Rafael post of the American Legion.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother, Maria Politz of San Rafael, and a brother, Joe Politz of Novato.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Rafael’s Church in San Rafael. The rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Raphael’s.
Friends may call at Keaton’s Mortuary in San Rafael until 5 p.m. Tuesday. The family prefers contributions to St. Vincent’s School in San Rafael.
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A Death Notice in the Tuesday, Oct. 29th, paper adds information:
Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma.
His name was Munfredi Russo Polizzi, called Fred.
He was brother-in-law of Gerry Politz of Novato, Leo and Norma Quiriconi of San Francisco, uncle of Michael and Jeffrey Politz of Novato, Dee Dee and John Martin, Pat and Bob Owens, great-uncle of Melissa and Alicia Martin and Brian Owens.
Longtime friend of Bill Hopkins.
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