With great sadness and profound regret, the Giorgi family announces that Frederick J. Giorgi, 81, of Muhlenberg Township died on February 18, 2012 of natural causes at St. Joseph Medical Center, where he had been a patient since January, 2012.

Born December 3, 1930, Fred was a son of the late Pietro and Elvira Giorgi, natives of Ascoli Piceno, Italy. He was a proud 1948 graduate of Reading Central Catholic High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1952 from Villanova University, where he majored in Pre-Law/Accounting, and a Juris Doctor degree from Dickinson School of Law in 1955. In 1999, he received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the Dickinson School of Law. He was presented with a 50 Year Membership Award by the Berks County Bar Association in June 2008.

Fred served in the United States Navy for two years, 1956-1957, and entered into the public practice of law in 1958 as a founding partner in the law firm of Austin, Boland, Connor & Giorgi, located in Reading, Pennsylvania. He continued with the firm in the "Of Counsel” capacity after leaving full-time legal practice. He also entered family business in 1958, where he worked part-time, simultaneously with the practice of law.

In 1975, Fred phased out public law practice to devote his full time and attention to the family business, Giorgio Foods, Inc. and its related companies. Until his passing, he was Chairman of F&P Holding Company with subsidiaries Giorgio Foods, Inc., Giorgi Mushroom Co., Can Corporation of America, Maidencreek Plaza Co., and other companies in the U.S.A, and Can Pack S.A., with operations in Poland, the United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, India, UAE, Spain, France, Morocco, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, and Brazil.

Fred’s many personal and professional accomplishments were recognized with a number of awards, including a Career Achievement Award (1993) from Dickinson School of Law, a 1996 Award of Merit from Penn State University Department of Mushroom Science, and a 2005 Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit by the President of the Republic of Poland for outstanding contribution to the development of the Polish Economy.

Fred is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Peter F. and Katherine R. Giorgi, Wyomissing, his beloved granddaughter and bright and shining star of his life, Isabella K. Giorgi, his sisters, Claudine Holingjak, Laureldale and Clare Gattone, Temple, his former wife, Elaine Giorgi, Reading, and by nephews, nieces and cousins in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Italy. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, Mario and Raymond, and his sister, Joanna Quaglia.

He was a life-long member of Holy Guardian Angel Roman Catholic Church, Hyde Park, where his generous contributions to further the work of the church and its organizations and ministries will always be remembered.

Fred’s wisdom and energy were legendary and instilled in his employees the desire and will to achieve well beyond expectations. Fred so highly regarded his employees that he never missed an opportunity to let them know they were his stars and rewarded them with legendary company trips all over the world. He will be greatly missed not only by his family, but by friends and colleagues on every continent whose lives he touched with loyalty, compassion and humor, as well as by the many organizations who sought and received his quiet but always willing help over many years.

Funeral services will be private and held at the convenience of the family, with memorial services to be announced. Contributions in memory of Fred Giorgi may be made to the American Cancer Society, 498 Bellevue Ave., Reading, PA 19605 and Holy Guardian Angel Church, 3121 Kutztown Road, Reading, PA 19605.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading is entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.