BREWSTER – Robert Ellsworth Freas, a resident of Brewster since 1985 and formerly of Bedford Hills, Somers and Brooklyn, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at the V.A. Hudson Valley Hospital in Montrose. He was 89.
A beloved father and husband, Robert will be greatly missed, not only by his family, but also by the larger circle of people who were touched by him. He served his country with honor, and always showed tremendous kindness and compassion to all those whose paths he crossed.
Son of the late Clarence E. and Mathilde (Higley) Freas, Robert was born in Brooklyn on January 14, 1931. He grew up in the neighborhood of Canarsie. In 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged from active duty as a Sergeant in 1953.
Robert was an architect for many years at the architectural firm of Elder, Garder and Angell, in Bedford, New York, and later as a teacher for the New York City Board of Education. His hobbies included baseball, history, and the study of Native American culture.
On June 28, 1957, he married Camille Ezagui in Brooklyn. Camille survives at their home in Brewster.
Additional survivors include his son, Erik Freas & his wife Elena Churikova of Brooklyn; his granddaughter, Stefania Simha Freas of Brooklyn; his niece, Donnamarie Ezagui of Brewster; and many other relatives & friends, most notably, the children and grandchildren of his two sisters, Margaret Schmidt and Betty Jeanne Roberts, both of whom predeceased him (in 2013 and 2019, respectively), along with his parents.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Interment was at Calverton National Cemetery, Long Island, NY.
Arrangements are under the direction of McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill, NY 12524. For online tributes, you can visit Robert’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.