FRED SGAMBATI
They called him The Scooter. His real name was Fred Sgambati, a game guy, one of Canada’s finest broadcasters, who passed away in 1979 after a five-year battle with liver cancer. He didn’t go willingly. He fought the disease with help from his wife Nan and four children — Patricia Anne, Fred Jr., Suzanne and Michael.
Fred Sgambati
He was so determined to defeat the dreaded illness, he insisted on broadcasting the College Bowl game at Varsity Stadium in Toronto the week before he died. Our much admired colleague lost the battle, but not before he gained the love and respect of those who knew him, as well as those who were aware of his reputation as a champion of the underdog, a kind and warm human being, a man always willing to help, a friend to those who needed one.
Beside his dedication to his jobs, whether as a broadcaster for Foster Hewitt’s station CKFH Toronto; CBC Radio and CBC TV, or as publicity director for the Canadian Football League, Fred dedicated a great deal of time to charity work. For three years he was chairman of the Canadian Cancer Society’s National Campaign Committee. He also served as chairman of the Ontario Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association and as co-chairman of the Annual Sports Celebrity Dinner for the Ontario Society for Crippled Children, today known as the Conn Smythe Sports Celebrities Dinner for Easter Seals.
Fred also served as secretary-treasurer of the Football Reporters of Canada and held membership in the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
In 1976, Fred won the prestigious ACTRA Award as Best Sportscaster of the Year. In fact, over 28 years Fred Sgambati’s broadcasting career was almost unparalleled. Whether it was the historic Canada-Soviet Union series, Canada Cups, Olympics, Pan-Am Games, or CFL games Fred Sgambati’s work was the perfromance of a perfectionist.
He left us at the young age of 58, a broadcaster who left a huge legacy as a true professional and a fine human being.