Richard T. "Skip" Frey

Richard T. “Skip” Frey, 66, of Drums, passed away Monday morning at his home surrounded by his loving family after a three-month battle with cancer.

 Born in Bethlehem, January 5, 1951, he was the son of the late Wallace Frey and Joan Leamon Frey Gyorek, and grandson of the late Fred and Mildred Leamon.

 Skip was a graduate of Moravian High School in Bethlehem and attended the Culinary Institute of America.  He began his career in the hospitality industry at Hotel Hershey for the Hershey Entertainment and Resort Co. and eventually held various managerial positions at Hershey Pocono Resort in White Haven including Director of Sales, Food and Beverage Director, Operations Director, and General Manager.  He opened “A Touch of Vanilla,” the resort’s gourmet restaurant.  He was an excellent cook, which was his passion and was attested to by friends and family who thoroughly enjoyed anything he made!  He was Food and Beverage Director at Jack Frost and Big Boulder Resorts, Vice President of Blue Ridge Reality Co. in Blakeslee and after retiring became a consultant for the company.  He was a member of the Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau, the Pennsylvania Society of Account Executives (PASAE) and Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA).

 Skip’s true passion though, was running.  He ran over 22 marathons and 13 half marathons, logging over 10,000 miles, always striving to do better than the last one.  His favorite marathons were Disney and Philadelphia.  He could be seen in Beech Mountain and Nescopeck Park, in all kinds of weather, always training.  In earlier years, his faithful first chocolate lab JB, would be by his side.  Skip also loved running the streets of Cape May or the beach in Sanibel Island, FL.  His running partner will surely miss those long Saturday runs through Nescopeck Park and Honey Hole Road.

 He was once an avid golfer, especially at Mountain Laurel Resort Golf Course.  Skip also enjoyed a good game of cards with friends or at the casino in AC. “The Shining”, “Columbo” episodes and every version of the “Christmas Carol” were favorites in his movie collection.  He was especially proud of his two sons and their law enforcement careers and his best buddy, his grandson Liam was the light of his life!

 Skip is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Anne (Jabjiniak) Frey, two sons, Shawn and his fiancée Natalie of Bartonsville; and Michael of Baltimore, MD; grandson, Liam Frey; brother Jack Frey, of Green Lane, PA; and sister Jill Frey and her companion Deb, Charleston, SC; sister-in-law, Beth O’Brien, Philadelphia; brothers-in-law, Richard Jabjiniak and his wife Melinda, Mt. Top; and William Jabjinak, Mesa, AZ; several aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, lab puppy Theo, and good buddies also survive.

 Sadly missed by friends and family, a memorial celebration will be held on Thursday beginning at 6:30pm at Celebrations at Sand Springs Country Club, 10 Clubhouse Drive, Drums. Family will receive friends prior to the memorial celebration beginning at 5:00pm.

Memorial donations may be made in Skip’s name to Pathways to Recovery, 223 West Broad Street, Hazleton, PA 18201 or to Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums, PA 18222.

 Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory (East), 669 West Butler Drive, Drums, assisted the family with the cremation.  Online condolences may be entered and more information is available at www.harmanfuneral.com  

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