Fred Hitchins – 76, of Plymouth, formerly of Abington and North Reading, following a dignified battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Fred was born on March 22nd1949 in Chelsea, MA to the late Arthur and Philomena (Greico) Hitchins and grew up in North Reading. After graduating from North Reading High School in 1967, he embarked on a long and successful career in business, including ventures at Empire Clothing and Ward Brothers in Maine in the 1980s. In the later years of his career, he worked for Products Plus in partnership with his dear friend, Bruce Warneck. Even as his cognition declined, Fred maintained his professionalism and fashion sense-always seen in dress pants and a button-up.

Fred was an avid fan of stock car racing, traveling throughout New England as part of a Busch North team in the early 1990s. Fixing things and tinkering around the house were lifelong passions. Fred was rarely idle. In retirement, he’d constantly be thinking up a new project, one of his proudest being the creation of his backyard koi pond. He took pride in his landscaping and cherished spending time with his grandchildren, especially watching his granddaughter’s softball games. On summer evenings, he could often be found enjoying a Red Sox game on his back deck. He enjoyed Papa Gino’s pizza and a hot dog on Fridays and a Friendly’s hot fudge sundae any day of the week. If anyone needed a helping hand, Fred was the first to offer it.

Fred was the loving father of Michael and Sarah Hitchins of Middleborough, and Jennifer and Brandon Doherty of Norfolk; the beloved Papa of Lucy and Henry Hitchins; the cherished brother of Barbara and Anthony Zeimetz of Andover, Robert and Ellen Hitchins of Wilmington, and Kathy and Tim Gallant of North Reading. He is also survived by his former wife, Debra Hitchins of Plymouth and their loyal companion Montana, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Donald Hitchins, and dogs Nook, KC, Bandit, and Dakota.

Fred’s family is immensely grateful to the staff of Sunrise of Plymouth Beach for their compassionate care over the past year and a half.

His funeral will be held on Saturday, January 31 at 12:30 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fred’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com