Alfred Santore, 90, of North Haven, formerly of Madison, died peacefully Dec. 15. He was born March 8, 1923. Fred lived much of his life in Madison and North Haven. He loved his beautiful and hilarious wife Sophia “Sonny” Len Santore very much, and he tried to be a good Catholic.

Fred Santore had great hair –always. He was suave, proud of his Italian heritage, and was quick-witted. He had a great sense of humor, never one to let an opportunity pass by without busting the stones of whoever was near, though he laughed with an eye-roll, a nod of his head and a two-finger salute anytime someone gave it right back to him. He worked at the Ryman Theatre, historically cool since 1892, in Nashville Tennessee. His name is written on the wall of the staircase in Ryman Auditorium. We know this because Uncle Vinnie put it there. Oh he had tea and crumpets with Elvis, and whole gang of Hee Haw.

Fred had a great sense of humor and was well respected by the large painting crew he worked with in the late 1980’s. He was very good at painting houses and began this career when he was about 75 years old. Before that, he liked to dress up in suits and sit on the New Haven Green all day with a briefcase so people would think he worked. We hear he was in the Air Force and I believe it because once when I visited him, his bed was made so tight I bounced a quarter off it!

Uncle Freddie always made lasagna for our holiday dinners. We never knew why there was no cheese, never asked and it didn’t matter because we scarfed it down and loved it every time. Uncle Fred’s lasagna legacy will surely live on as it was always a lively conversation piece. He didn’t drive on the highway, which is why it took him two hours to get from Madison to Orange.

Freddie “Sands” Santore was most happy when he was hob-knobbing with celebrities down in Dixie. He wasn’t a complex man, liked to keep things simple. He had no great expectations in life, but rather lived each day as ordinarily as possible, boiled chicken or chocolates were his go-to meals. You see, Freddie’s past with the Grand Ole Opry folk were, to him, the pinnacle of his life. He spoke of those days, and those people so fondly it seemed he had already lived a full life, the years following were just borrowed time. Of course he had his wife Sonny to keep him on his toes most of those bonus years. Now they are reunited.

Freddie and Sonny Santore,

Freddie Sands and the Grand Ole Gang.

He’s got it all now.

Saaaaa--lute!