Alfred (Fred) Carmine Cerullo Jr. of Huguenot, a gentle giant of a man whose family was the centerpiece of his life and whose warmth and kindness left a lasting impression on everyone he met, died Thursday morning in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, just two weeks after his 82nd birthday.
The cause of death was a head injury suffered during a fall at home two days earlier, said his son, Alfred (Fred) Cerullo III, president and CEO of the Grand Central Partnership and a former City Council member.
Born on May 21, 1938 in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, Mr. Cerullo met the love of his life, the former Elizabeth Russo, when they were students at New Utrecht High School. He proposed to her at their senior prom.
They were married on Feb. 1, 1958, in St. Athanasius R.C. Church, Bensonhurst, followed by a reception at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan and a honeymoon road trip to Niagara Falls. In 1964, the couple moved from Brooklyn to Great Kills to raise a family.
Tragically, Mr. Cerullo became a young widower in March 1984 when his wife, Elizabeth, an educator, died from brain cancer at the age of 45. He adapted seamlessly to his new role caring by himself for his three children aged 18, 20 and 22, his son recalled with admiration.
“He was a survivor,” Fred Cerullo III said. “He never complained and pulled off an amazing feat, all while suffering great pain and loss. He never stopped working to make sure we were OK and made our lives seem as normal as possible.”
FAMILY BUSINESS
For more than 40 years, Mr. Cerullo managed his family’s automotive business in Bay Ridge, Owl’s Head Service Center, established by his father in 1956.
The shop was a neighborhood landmark where friends and customers would gather just to shoot the breeze. Mr. Cerullo welcomed all of them with a warm smile.
“Customers were like members of the family,” Mr. Cerullo’s son said. “Even people who didn’t own a car came by just for a visit.”
Mr. Cerullo was proud of his children’s accomplishments, and enjoyed supporting his eldest son, a public figure serving New York City in a series of elected and appointed positions.
Fred Cerullo III was a four-term member of the City Council, commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs, City Commissioner of Finance and a member of the Campaign Finance Board. He has led the Grand Central Partnership in Midtown Manhattan since 1999 and has served as a City Planning commissioner since 2004.
Mr. Cerullo was often at his son’s side at countless fundraisers and events on Staten Island and throughout the city.
“My father participated in every aspect of my career and enjoyed every minute of it,” his son said. “He loved getting to know all the people in our community -- people who made Staten Island and the city tick.”
A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Cerullo served two years as a private first-class at Fort Dix in New Jersey, with an honorary discharge in 1958.
His passions included spending time with his grandchildren, listening to country music and watching John Wayne movies.
He was also an avid hunter and a member of the Richmond County Gun Club who went on frequent excursions to upstate New York and Pennsylvania.
CONDOLENCES
Community leaders reacted to news of Mr. Cerullo’s death.
Borough President James Oddo: “You will not find a kinder, gentler, and more decent human being than Mr. Cerullo. His innate goodness was evident to anyone who spent time with him. It’s no wonder he raised wonderful children, including his son Fred, whom my wife Kim and I love dearly. Mr. Cerullo now rests easy wrapped in God’s loving embrace, having lived a good and purposeful life.”
Advance Publisher Caroline Diamond Harrison: “When you met Fred, you felt embraced immediately by his warmth and compassion. It wasn’t superficial. He really listened and made you feel he cared about what you had to say. He was genuine and kind. And above all, he was so proud of his tight knit family. You’d see all the generations together - his mother, Fred, his children and grandchildren -- and you’d know family meant everything. My heart goes out to all of Fred’s family at this very sad time.”
Advance Executive Editor Brian J. Laline: “Whoever coined the word ‘gentleman’ had Fred Cerullo in mind without knowing it. He was a gentle man. My family is privileged to be considered part of the Cerullo family, and them part of ours. ‘The Freds’ we called dad and son. They were part of every celebration we had – weddings here and far, baptisms, birthday parties, trips to our place at the Shore. My wife and I just spoke to Fred a week or two ago, sending him birthday wishes and planning another trip to the Barnegat Bay for burgers, martinis – and, of course, his son’s famous guacamole and Bloody Mary’s. Carol and I, along with our sons, daughter and their spouses are so saddened losing a very special friend who we loved. We will always hold him in our hearts.”
Lois and Richard Nicotra, owners of the Hilton Garden Inn: “What can you say about the sweetest, most gentle, and kindest person that you have ever known? We just called Fred for his birthday on May 21, like we do every year. And he always called us for any special occasion we were celebrating -- birthdays, anniversaries, holidays. When we spoke this last time, we reminisced about when he would come to Lorenzo’s Restaurant at the Hilton with his friends. They would sit at a corner table and spend the entire afternoon talking, laughing and trying to solve the problems of the world. His one friend looked like the famous author, Studs Terkel. They got the biggest kick out of us saying that, even though we’re not sure they even knew who Studs Terkel was.
“Fred always ordered one of our famous veal chops smothered with mushrooms and onions. And no matter what event he attended at our hotel, we made sure that he was always served a veal chop-even if the menu called for chicken. After our last conversation, we called his son Fred, and said that even though Lorenzo’s is closed due to the pandemic, let’s make plans to have your Dad come to our home so we can cook some veal chops for him on our grill. This gave us all something to look forward to; how disappointing that it will never come to be.
“We knew that Fred loved owls; he even used it in his company’s name. So on one of our trips to Italy, we brought him back a ceramic owl. When we gave it to him, it was as though we gave him a brand new Rolls Royce. He was always so grateful for anything anyone ever did for him.
“So farewell to our big huggable teddy bear who was one of our biggest supporters and always so complimentary of us. The world, and our lives, will just not be the same without him. We loved him. He was family. Our hearts are broken.”
Former Congresswoman Susan Molinari: Mr. Cerullo had a heart as big as his smile. He made everyone feel like family with his warmth and joy. The Cerullo’s are an incredibly close family and Fred and his dad were blessed to have a special, special bond.
SURVIVORS AND ARRANGEMENTS
In addition to his son, Fred Cerullo III, Mr. Cerullo is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Bruno (Dr. James); a son, Scott (Victoria); a sister, Linda Cerullo; two grandchildren, Thomas and Elizabeth Bruno; his sisters by marriage, Maureen Alaimo and the actress Patty McCormack, and five nephews and two nieces.
Because of the ongoing public health crisis, there will be no wake or funeral. Burial will take place in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp, following a private graveside service. A celebration of Mr. Cerullo’s life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to a scholarship supporting Staten Island students pursuing a degree at St. John’s University can be sent to The Cerullo Family Scholarship, St. John’s University, Office of Development, Belson Hall, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica, N.Y. 11439.
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Alfred (Fred) Cerullo Jr., a man of charm, kindness and love of family, dies. He was 82. - SILive.com
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