Frederick C. Catterall, Jr., age 92, passed away at home on Thursday, May 18, 2017 after a long illness. He was the son of the late Frederick C. Catterall, Sr. and Mabel (Campbell) Catterall. He was the husband of the late Clotile (Farias) Catterall of New Bedford.
He is survived by his son John T. Catterall and his wife Lisa of Mattapoisett; daughter Lois C. Ayotte and her husband Alfred Ayotte Jr. of New Bedford; his sister, Florence Cieplik of Dartmouth and long-time friend and companion, Pauline E. Monize of Largo, Florida; godchildren Linda Picard of Taunton and Patricia Stinson of Mattapoisett; as well as several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and close friends, Bob and Cathy Monize.
Fred was born and raised in New Bedford and enjoyed spending his summers at Blueberry Hill Campground in Plymouth, MA. After becoming a widower, he moved to Largo, Florida and spent his summers at Blueberry Hill. He was a communicant of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in New Bedford and St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Largo, Florida.
Fred was a proud veteran of the United States Navy serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II aboard the USS Nantahala (AO-60)—a fleet oiler, surviving an attack by a Japanese Navy torpedo that struck a nearby ship. After his wartime service, he was employed at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s factory in New Bedford until he started working as a New Bedford Police Officer on May 18, 1952. Fred proudly served on the New Bedford Police Department as a uniformed patrol officer and detective for over 34 and a half years before his retirement in 1986.
Fred will be fondly remembered for always having a smile and a joke for everyone he met. He was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan; he loved animals, clam chowder, fish and chips, lobster rolls and coffee ice cream. He enjoyed dining at the Suncoast Family Restaurant in Largo, FL on a regular basis.
The family gives thanks to the caring, compassionate, and professional staff from Kindred At Home and Beacon Hospice, especially Michelle, Kevin, Kerrin, and Katie.
There will be a private family burial service on Friday, May 26, 2017 at the Rural Cemetery at 9:30 AM. Friends and family are invited to a Memorial Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, June 17 at 11:30 AM at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 136 Rivet Street, New Bedford.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Fred’s name to either the St. Martin’s Building Fund/Roof Repair, 136 Rivet St., New Bedford, MA 02744 or to the Salvation Army.