Fred B. Cole

[Donna Halper]

I grew up listening to the late Bob Clayton, Ken & Bill, and Fred B. 
Cole... my parents preferred Middle of the Road, and they loved the 
old WHDH...  Thanks to Len Zola of the Media Gang for forwarding this 
notice from the funeral parlor:

Fred B. Cole
December 06, 2007

[]


FRED B. COLE, of Hingham, died on Thursday, Dec. 6th at his home. 
Born in 1915, Fred was a Hingham native for 92 years. He graduated 
from Thayer Academy and the Leland Powers School of Broadcasting.

Fred was a well known Boston Broadcaster working for stations WNAC, 
WBZ and WHDH. His career took him to Hollywood and New York City 
where he worked for both the ABC and NBC Networks. He was best known 
as the voice of the Big Bands, announcing for the Orchestras of Glenn 
Miller, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Chick Webb as well 
as vocalists Frank Sinatra and Vaughan Monroe among others.

While working for WHDH from 1946 to 1967 he continued playing the 
sounds of the Big Bands. In the 60's he traveled New England in the 
first A& P sponsored Mobile Studio, allowing his listeners to view 
his show live. He created a huge fan base by connecting with many 
traveling salesmen who had become members of the Fred B. Cole 
Huckster's Club. As a tribute to his career, Fred was inducted into 
the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame in May of 2007.

In 1984 Fred's smallest audience gave him his biggest thrill. For 
several years he was a rookie civilian dispatcher for his much 
admired and respected Hingham Police Department.

He gave of his time to the town he so loved by serving on the 
Conservation Commission for many years. He was also a member of Old 
Colony Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Hingham and was a longtime member of the 
Hingham Yacht Club. In addition, he served as a director of the 
Industrial Credit Union in Boston.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, the love of his life, Betsey 
(Balch) Cole. Devoted father of Cheryl Sherwin and her husband Leo, 
and Daphne Keeler and her husband Dan, all of Hingham. Four loving 
grandchildren; Scott McLaughlin of San Diego, Stacey Paretchan of 
Hingham, Dana Keeler of Boston and the late Dean Keeler. In addition, 
four great-grandchildren; Alex, Tyler, Danielle and Cole.

At the request of his family, funeral services will be private. In 
lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Hingham 
Land Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 10, Hingham, MA 02043.

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21 Pond Street
Hingham, MA USA 02043
781-749-0340
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Fred B. Cole
December 06, 2007

[]


FRED B. COLE, of Hingham, died on Thursday, Dec. 6th at his home. 
Born in 1915, Fred was a Hingham native for 92 years. He graduated 
from Thayer Academy and the Leland Powers School of Broadcasting.

Fred was a well known Boston Broadcaster working for stations WNAC, 
WBZ and WHDH. His career took him to Hollywood and New York City 
where he worked for both the ABC and NBC Networks. He was best known 
as the voice of the Big Bands, announcing for the Orchestras of Glenn 
Miller, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Chick Webb as well 
as vocalists Frank Sinatra and Vaughan Monroe among others.

While working for WHDH from 1946 to 1967 he continued playing the 
sounds of the Big Bands. In the 60's he traveled New England in the 
first A& P sponsored Mobile Studio, allowing his listeners to view 
his show live. He created a huge fan base by connecting with many 
traveling salesmen who had become members of the Fred B. Cole 
Huckster's Club. As a tribute to his career, Fred was inducted into 
the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame in May of 2007.

In 1984 Fred's smallest audience gave him his biggest thrill. For 
several years he was a rookie civilian dispatcher for his much 
admired and respected Hingham Police Department.

He gave of his time to the town he so loved by serving on the 
Conservation Commission for many years. He was also a member of Old 
Colony Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Hingham and was a longtime member of the 
Hingham Yacht Club. In addition, he served as a director of the 
Industrial Credit Union in Boston.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, the love of his life, Betsey 
(Balch) Cole. Devoted father of Cheryl Sherwin and her husband Leo, 
and Daphne Keeler and her husband Dan, all of Hingham. Four loving 
grandchildren; Scott McLaughlin of San Diego, Stacey Paretchan of 
Hingham, Dana Keeler of Boston and the late Dean Keeler. In addition, 
four great-grandchildren; Alex, Tyler, Danielle and Cole.

At the request of his family, funeral services will be private. In 
lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Hingham 
Land Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 10, Hingham, MA 02043.