George Robert Fraga, the Massachusetts farm boy who later sold computers to companies and mortgages to families in the Philadelphia area, died in his sleep on Friday, March 13.  He suffered complications of a heart attack and pneumonia in recent weeks and passed away peacefully.  

Born in 1932, George was the 7^thof 12 children born to his parents, Antonio and Etelvina (nee Bertao) Fraga, who were Portuguese immigrants from the Azorean island of Terceira. Along with his seven brothers and four sisters, George helped their parents tend a farm in the city of Taunton, MA – stepping up their game to maintain the farm during the Great Depression after their father died suddenly when George was 9 years old. This spirit of hard work, commitment to his family, and commitment to doing what’s right were hallmarks of George’s service throughout his life.  

An honors graduate of Coyle High School in Taunton, MA, George enrolled at Stonehill College and left to join the U.S. Army during the Korean War.  Recognized for his intelligence and natural leadership, he was invited to compete for Officer Candidate School; this led to him being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, a point of which he and his family were rightly proud. Lieut. Fraga served on various bases throughout the continental US, which gave him an opportunity to see the country.  

After the Army, George decided to join the blossoming computer industry, taking a job as a customer engineer for Remington Rand. Demonstrating his loyalty and his tireless energy for taking on new challenges, George grew with this company for 35 years as it morphed and merged to become Univac, Sperry, and finally Unisys.  

George became a decorated salesman, then a sales manager and then spent years in the headquarters operation in marketing. When he accepted an early retirement opportunity, he then spent the next 20 years selling mortgages to families. He took particular pleasure working with new immigrant families, explaining the obtuse details of the US financial system and the mortgage process as he helped them get into their first home.  

In 1962, George married Marian (nee Chalock), a Philadelphia nurse who was educated at the University of Pennsylvania. The young couple lived for a short time in the suburbs of New York and then moved to Lansdale, PA, and they have lived in Lansdale or Skippack ever since. Over their almost 58-year marriage they were known for kiddingly calling each other “Chubs.”  They had three children: Mark Fraga, Deborah (Deb) Rotelle, and Christopher (Chip) Fraga.  

While raising three kids and rising in the corporate ranks, George also went back to night school to finish his Bachelor’s degree at Temple University when his kids were still under 10 years old. All three kids remember attending his graduation with great pride, and that memory has stayed with them as George reminded them frequently of the value of a strong education.  

George Fraga is survived by his wife and children, their spouses – Polly (Dane) Fraga MD, Wayne Rotelle, and Ann (Keffer) Fraga – and nine grandchildren (Brie Rotelle, Brooke Rotelle, Christopher Fraga Jr., Sophia Fraga, Brian Fraga, Juliana Rotelle, Jonathan Fraga, Tyler Rotelle, and Luke Fraga). He is also survived by two of his brothers (Alfred Fraga and Paul Fraga) and two of his sisters (Helen Annunziato and Ethel Fraga) and numerous nieces and nephews.

George enjoyed playing tennis, gardening, his commitment to the Catholic Church, and spending time with his family. He was famous for his optimism, being able to describe “three ways to get there” no matter where one wanted to go. He enjoyed brainstorming new approaches and ideas and enjoyed a good joke. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. 

Because of the unprecedented coronavirus crisis, there will be a private funeral with immediate family members only. A larger celebration of George Fraga’s life will be held in the Spring or Summer when restrictions on gathering and travel have eased.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations in Mr. Fraga’s memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (donations made before April 15 will be matched at www.alz.org/yourmatch) or to the Living Streams Ranch, a ministry run by his daughter Deb, at www.livingstreamsranch.org.