Obituary of Buddy Victor

August 9, 1930 - Brooklyn, New York

August 4, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Alfred G. Fiumefreddo (aka Buddy Victor), passed away peacefully in his sleep, at his home in Calgary, on August 4, 2023. He was five days shy of his 93rd birthday.

Buddy was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Anna and Victor Freda. He went to Boys High School in Brooklyn, where he graduated valedictorian. After graduating, he embarked on a solo singing career, appearing on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour and singing with the Ralph Flanagan Orchestra. In 1957 he joined the Rover Boys, a doo-wop group, where he met his partner of over sixty-five years, Al Osten. The Rover Boys went on to perform on the Tonight Show, at Radio City Music Hall, and as part of a Parisian Revue in Las Vegas.

In the mid 1960s Buddy relocated to Edmonton, AB, and ultimately became a Canadian citizen. He called Edmonton his home for over fifty years. Upon relocating to Edmonton, Buddy initially performed at the Embers and later hosted a CBC radio show. He also performed on a number of television specials.

In 1967, he and Al pursued an opportunity to invest in an up-and-coming business opportunity, Weight Watchers. In doing so, they purchased the Alberta Weight Watchers franchise and later the Saskatchewan franchise. They subsequently sold the business in 2013. As a result of their good fortune and success, Buddy and AI have had the opportunity to support various charitable organizations, including Pilgrims Hospice, the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Victor-Osten Foundation and Alzheimer’s Society in Edmonton, as well as the Osten-Victor Alberta Tennis Centre, Theatre Calgary, and the Osten-Victor Foundation in Calgary, to name a few.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral (219 - 18th Avenue, SW, Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Buddy’s family at mhfh.com.

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to Pilgrims Hospice Society, (9808 - 148 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada TSN 3E8), (780) 413-9801, www.pilgrimshospice.com.

In living memory of Buddy Victor, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.