John Freda, a 51-year-old optician who was best described as funny, thoughtful, intelligent and introspective, lost his battle with Covid-19 on April 22, Murphy said. His parents, Larry and Vicki, died just two days later and hours apart. The pair also died from Covid-19, according to a state official.
“Three great and loving souls who were all taken from the same family within a span of 48 hours,” said Murphy, who spoke to family members before announcing the deaths at the August 12 press conference. “The Freda family remains in our thoughts and our prayers.”
A “proud Jersey product all the way,” John Freda loves writing, drawing, art and superhero movies, Murphy said. He died just one month later from what would have been his 52nd birthday.
His parents “were divorced,” Murphy said at his news conference. “And there is a tragic poetry, as I have already mentioned, that they would both leave this life on the same day, literally within hours of each other.”
Both born in Newark, New Jersey, the couple spent 58 years in Fairfield township, where they raised their three sons.
Larry, who was weeks ashamed of his 86th birthday, served in the U.S. Army and went on to pursue a 24-year career at a brewery before becoming a supervisor at West Essex High School. Vicki, 83, served as executive secretary to former Fairfield Mayor Rocco Palmieri before retiring in 2007.
After their retirement, Larry and Vicki were great-grandparents of their six grandchildren, attending sporting events, plays, and choir performances.
John leaves behind three sons, Brian, David and Adam. Larry and Vicki leave behind two sons, Larry and Alex, and six grandchildren.
CNN reached out to members of the Freda family for comment.
“The Freda family is just one of thousands of families who know all too well the appalling power and strength of this virus,” Murphy said. “For them, and for all of us, we must continue to do everything possible to slow down the spread of this virus and save lives.
“We need to keep up with our social distance and we need to continue wearing our face masks. We need to think about others, about our own family and friends and our communities, and put the general good above all else.”
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