Fred Caruso
Broadcasting and baseball. The two words perhaps most closely associated with the passions and motivations of the 2021 Broadcaster of the Year…. But Fred Caruso is so much more.
Fred grew up in a traditional Italian family with his parents and brothers living upstairs and his Nonna and Pa living downstairs….. big family gatherings included lots of food and many extended family members.
Fred’s love of sports, especially baseball, started as a child with ball games in the street with the neighbor kids and his brothers. He even skipped school to go to a “doctors” appointment so he could go with his Dad to see a 1967 World Series game.
If he wasn’t at the plate, he dreamt of being in the booth. He was influenced to go into radio by his Uncle Carl Caruso who had a long-storied career and was most famous for being the ABC announcer during intros and credits on shows such as ‘Fathers Know Best’ and “Lassie”, and the daily line up of soap operas.
Fred studied broadcasting at Leland Powers school of broadcasting. From there he started a long career at WFTN as the program director. In 1978 he walked into the door and soon met a beautiful local woman who caught his eye. In 1982 he married his soulmate Cherri and adopted her son Bryan. Not long after welcoming their daughter Tracy, WFTN gave him the opening he still holds today:
Fred became the morning personality in the mid 1980s. In addition to his on-air responsibilities, he has also served as the Operations Director and most recently Assistant General Manager at Northeast Communications.
He created the Mix cash and cans fund drive where he spends a week in a van going around collecting cash and funds for many local charities in the lakes region. Hundreds of thousands of dollars and tons of cans have been raised in the decades since it has started.
For many years, he participated in the NH Special Olympics Penguin Plunge at Hampton Beach as well as the Winni Dip held annually on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Whenever there is a local event Fred is there. He even walks the Tanger breast cancer 5k in memory of friend and former coach Amy Dutton. A fixture at the pines Easter and Christmas breakfasts. Always up to drive in an old home day parade. Fred goes out of his way to help in a community event.
An accomplished baseball coach at the Winnisquam high school he has mentored many generations of boys – even winning a state championship and having one of his star players signed to the New York Yankees.
Fred’s wife says they can’t go anywhere without someone coming up to Fred and saying they “get out of bed with Fred” or that they’ve been listening to him since they were young. He is very highly regarded in the community – with numerous recognitions – known for his genuine personality, tireless efforts to help local causes and teach the younger generation the importance of giving whatever they can afford.