Frederick Rich
Early Life
Frederick Joseph Rich was born on September 4, 1896, in Rye, New York, the son of Joseph Rich and Mary Pacific. Raised in a large family, he grew up at 204 North Street in Rye, alongside several siblings in a household representative of the town’s growing Italian-American community in the early twentieth century.
By 1918, he was working for the Westchester Lighting Company on Railroad Avenue in Rye, reflecting early employment in the region’s developing utility and infrastructure industries.
World War I Service
Rich entered military service in September 1918, when he was inducted at Port Chester, New York, into the United States Army. He was assigned to training and replacement units at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, including the Field Artillery Replacement Depot.
Replacement depots such as those at Camp Jackson were responsible for preparing soldiers for potential deployment overseas, providing training in artillery operations, mechanical transport, and general military readiness. Rich’s assignments included service in units associated with artillery replacement and automotive transport preparation.
His period of service came during the final months of World War I, and there is no record of overseas deployment or combat engagement. Like many soldiers inducted late in the war, his service remained stateside as the conflict came to an end.
He was honorably discharged on December 31, 1918.
Life After Service
Following his military service, Rich remained closely connected to the Rye and Harrison communities. He later settled in Harrison, New York, where he lived for more than three decades.
He was employed as an operator with the Westchester County Disposal Works, contributing to public infrastructure and municipal services. He was also a communicant of St. Gregory’s Church, reflecting continued involvement in community and parish life.
Frederick J. Rich died on April 18, 1962, in Carmel, New York, at the age of 65.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his son, Frederick Rich Jr.; his sisters, Mrs. Anne Izzo of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Mrs. Jennie Izzo of Rye; and his brothers, Joseph and Michael Rich of Rye.