FRED B. COLE, of Hingham, died on Thursday, Dec. 6th at his home. Born in 1915, Fred was a Hingham native for 92 years. He graduated from Thayer Academy and the Leland Powers School of Broadcasting.
Fred was a well known Boston Broadcaster working for stations WNAC, WBZ and WHDH. His career took him to Hollywood and New York City where he worked for both the ABC and NBC Networks. He was best known as the voice of the Big Bands, announcing for the Orchestras of Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Chick Webb as well as vocalists Frank Sinatra and Vaughan Monroe among others.
While working for WHDH from 1946 to 1967 he continued playing the sounds of the Big Bands. In the 60's he traveled New England in the first A& P sponsored Mobile Studio, allowing his listeners to view his show live. He created a huge fan base by connecting with many traveling salesmen who had become members of the Fred B. Cole Huckster's Club. As a tribute to his career, Fred was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame in May of 2007.
In 1984 Fred's smallest audience gave him his biggest thrill. For several years he was a rookie civilian dispatcher for his much admired and respected Hingham Police Department.
He gave of his time to the town he so loved by serving on the Conservation Commission for many years. He was also a member of Old Colony Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Hingham and was a longtime member of the Hingham Yacht Club. In addition, he served as a director of the Industrial Credit Union in Boston.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, the love of his life, Betsey (Balch) Cole. Devoted father of Cheryl Sherwin and her husband Leo, and Daphne Keeler and her husband Dan, all of Hingham. Four loving grandchildren; Scott McLaughlin of San Diego, Stacey Paretchan of Hingham, Dana Keeler of Boston and the late Dean Keeler. In addition, four great-grandchildren; Alex, Tyler, Danielle and Cole.
At the request of his family, funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Hingham Land Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 10, Hingham, MA 02043.