Around New England

Late Longtime Reporter Gets New Orleans-Style Parade Send-Off

November 12, 2018

Friends and family of longtime reporter Fred Contrada celebrated his life with a New Orleans-style parade in Northampton on Sunday, November 11.

Contrada, who died Tuesday, November 6 of a degenerative neurological disease he was diagnosed with two years ago, worked for the Springfield Republican as a reporter, and also wrote a column. He also wrote novels.

Contrada grew up in East Boston and went to Boston College High School and Holy Cross. He spent time doing odd jobs in New Orleans, California, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska, before eventually becoming a reporter for Springfield’s daily newspaper, where he developed a following.

MassLive.com, the web site of the Springfield Republican, published 44 photos of the parade and gathering.

The parade, which included music and oversize photos of Contrada, went from Forbes Library to the ballroom at the Hotel Northampton.

His obituary does not mention a funeral.