Obituary: Frederick Ernest DeFinis, 88, Army Air POW

Frederick Ernest DeFinis, 88, of Norwalk, husband of the late Ann Perniciaro DeFinis, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Friday, January 18, 2013.            

Fred was born on March 21, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY to the late John and Minnie (Caesarini) DeFinis.  After graduating from Norwalk High School in 1942, Fred served in the 8th US Army Air Corps. Flying out of England, he was a belly gunner in a B-17 Bomber and was shot down by enemy fire on March 16, 1943. He parachuted to safety, but was captured by the Germans and spent thirteen months as a Prisoner of War in Frankfurt. In April 1944, because the American and British troops were getting close to the compound, the Germans moved the prisoners from Frankfurt to Berlin. It was on this march that Fred and five other prisoners were able to escape.            

After the service, Fred trained at J.M. Wright Technical School to become an auto mechanic. He worked for several local car dealerships during his career; Saabye & Hartford Buick, Karl Buick, Singewald Buick, Rudy Pontiac, and Griffin Ford, from which he retired at the age of 80.            

Fred was known locally for his athletic contributions. He was a member of the Norwalk High School football and baseball teams. While in the service he joined the US Army Air Force Boxing team and went on to win the Welterweight Championship against the US Navy and Marines. After his discharge, Fred played baseball and football for many local teams, including the Highlanders, Strawberry Hill A.C., Laurel A.C., Norwalk Tigers, Rowayton Bears, Blue Moon and Chatham Oaks. His greatest satisfaction and source of pride came from coaching and mentoring his son, Fred, and then his three grandsons, through many levels of baseball and football. Fred was inducted into the Norwalk Old Timers Hall of Fame in 1993.            

Fred is survived by his son, Frederick J. (Betsy) and his daughter, Ann Marie Dustin, of Norwalk. He will be greatly missed by his grandsons, Michael, Dennis (Heather), and David (Christina) Dustin. He is also survived by his great-grandsons, Denny and Chase Dustin, his sister, Helen O. Terry of Norwalk, and his nephew, Ed (Lee) Terry.     

Services for Fred will be held at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave., Norwalk on Wednesday, January 23 at 11:30 AM.  Burial with full military honors will follow at St. John Cemetery.  His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 3-7 PM. 

The family wishes to thank Masonicare nurse, Vivien Tola, for the special care and compassion she gave to their dad and the support she gave to the family. For directions or to leave an online condolence, please go to magnerfuneralhome.com