Fred Porto, age 97, of Ambridge, passed away on Friday, May 4, 2012 at Meadville Medical Center in Meadville, PA. He was born in Calabria, Italy on January 9, 1915, a son of the late Gennaro Porto and Anna Suriano Porto.

Porto, FredA veteran of WWII, Fred served in the European theatre with the U.S. Army Engineers as a Staff Sergeant Fire Chief. He was proprietor of Porto Barber and Beauty Shop in Ambridge along with his wife before retiring in 1985.

Preceding him in death in addition to his parents, Gennaro Porto and Anna Suriano Porto, were six brothers – Frank, Samuel, James, Joseph, Ferdinand (Ray), and Philip Porto.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary Rose (Guidice) Porto, to whom he was married for 71 years; a son – Dennis Porto (Dianne) of Edinboro, PA; a daughter – Cynthia Leonard of Gaithersburg, MD; two brothers – Albert Porto of East Hampton, MA and Anthony Porto of Crescent, PA; a sister – Mary DeMacio of Baden, PA; grandchildren – Sarah and Cassie Leonard and Cara and Pamela Porto; a great grandson – Derek Sawer and many nephews and nieces.

A private family viewing was held Sunday, May 6th at the Van Matre Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs, PA. Entombment followed in Sylvania Hills Mausoleum, Rochester, PA on Monday, May 7th.