Former Manchester Councilman Frattini Dies At Age 92

Archive Photo: Mary Frattini holds the Bible for her husband Charles as he takes the oath as councilman. (Photo by Micromedia Publications)

  MANCHESTER – Former Councilman Charles L. Frattini died on August 28 leaving behind a legacy of public service.

  Frattini, 92, served on the Township Council from January 2013 until April 30, 2019, and was the previous president of the Leisure Village West Board of Trustees where he and his wife Mary lived.

  He was a US Marine Corps veteran and retired as a career photojournalist for the N.Y. Daily News.

  The former councilman is survived by his wife Mary of 68 years, four children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Flags will be flown at half-mast this week in his honor.

  He was born in Brooklyn, NY, on September 20, 1928 and grew up there. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1945. He took pride in being a Marine, serving in China during WWII. After his discharge, he attended Champlain College, majoring in journalism and then returned to Brooklyn where he met his future wife who shared his September 20 birthday.

  They were also married on September 20, completing the “perfect match.” He lived in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Damascus (PA), and in 1997 he and his wife moved to Leisure Village West in Manchester.

  Frattini was an award-winning photojournalist for the New York Daily News, where he worked for his entire career. One of his proudest achievements was presiding over and chairing the first Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Committee in the United States in the early 1960s, which because of its success, became a role model in ecumenism for the entire country.

  He was elected Trustee for Leisure Village West, serving several terms, and was an active volunteer holding leadership positions in several LVW clubs. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. In 2012 and 2016, he successfully ran for Township Council and served in that position until 2019.

Photo courtesy Manchester Township

  His greatest joys in life were his wife, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He had a very positive outlook in life and was described by family and friends as someone who would look on the bright side of things despite suffering from constant debilitating pain.

  Frattini will be fondly remembered by all who knew him which includes his wife and four children: Marianne (Ed) Striedl, Ellen (Regina) Frattini, Frank (Teresa) Frattini, and Charles (Emily) Frattini, Jr.; his five grandchildren: Joseph, Theresa (Tony), Suzanne (Dallas), Charles III, and Marc; his seven great-grandchildren: Angela, Anthony, Andrew, Alexander, Adam, Elizabeth, and Ridge; his sister-in-law, Sister Theresa Baldini, M.M.; and his nieces and nephews. Charles was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Helen (Longabardi) Frattini; his sister, Maria Maddalena; and his sister-in-law, Connie Doyle-Jovais.

  His family would like to thank the staff of Grace Hospice and Rose Garden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their exceptional care.

  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Sister Theresa Baldini, Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, PO Box 311, Maryknoll, New York, 10545-0311.

  Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, September 2 at Oliverie Funeral Home, 2925 Ridgeway Road, in Manchester.

  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 3, 2021 at 12 PM at St John’s Church, 619 Chestnut St, Lakehurst, NJ. Interment will follow at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562. Livestreaming access St. John’s Church, Lakehurst, New Jersey, USA – YouTube.

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Mayor Robert Hudak told Jersey Shore Online “he was a devoted family man and his family was his greatest joy. Mr. Frattini dedicated his life to public service. He was a retired awarded-winning photo-journalist, Council member from 2013 to 2019 and served as trustee in Leisure Village West.”

The mayor added, “Mr. Frattini was a proud United States Marine. He will always be remembered for his exemplary service to this community and our country. He devoted his time and efforts to make the world a better place. I express my deepest sympathy to his wife Mary and to his family at this most difficult time. “