Alumni Spotlight
Fred Fortugno and Jullian Hipwood.
Fred and his dog, Ripper.
Fred Fortugno
“I
t’s not all about winning it’s about camaraderie, the lifestyle, and meeting people. Don’t forget to have fun!” Alfred E. “Fred” Fortugno of Cochranville, PA first came to a polo match at Brandywine in 1957; he liked what he saw and decided to try the sport of polo. He was already an experienced rider of hunters and jumpers and quickly became one of the clubs most active players and biggest supporters. Fred tackled polo just as he approached becoming a licensed pilot and “The Mushroom King.” He earned a commercial license with multi-engine and instrument ratings for light aircraft, and became president of the largest mushroom canning company in the U.S. – Oxford Royal Mushroom Canning Co. “You know, if you want something badly enough and you make up your mind, 9 chances out of 10 you will get it. In 1948 when I took over this company I never dreamed we’d be number 1 in the nation in the canned mushroom business.” Fred’s passionate participation in and enthusiastic contributions to the sport of polo have spanned four decades. He reached the rating of 2 goals and for more than 30 years he had served as USPA Eastern Circuit
Fred and his airplane.
By Ericka Fuchsloch
governor since 1972, continuing his stewardship of the game by serving on the USPA Nominating, Constitution and Executive Committees. “Other guys talked about their ratings and I made up my mind to get to be the best I could. I set a deadline and made it.” Fred played in the ’72 26-Goal Sunshine League and 16-Goal League, the 1977 U.S. Open Championship and won the ‘77 Monty Waterbury Cup and the Delegate’s Cup, ’80 Bronze Cup, ’90 National Copper Cup as well as five Eastern Circuit 12-Goal titles and the Gerald Balding Tournament. On February 16th, 2007, Fred was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Gulfstream, Florida. He was awarded the Iglehart Award, given to those individuals who have proven exceptional life time contributions to the sport of polo. Fred is well-known for his sportsmanship and encouragement, both here and abroad, through gestures such as mounting numerous international teams from overseas and lending horses to the players at Brandywine to keep polo going there after a tragic fire killed many ponies. In addition to raising a daughter and three sons who are accomplished players, Fred was always ready with a kind word of encouragement, a steady horse or a sympathetic ear after a win or a loss. Generations of players credit Fred for starting, mentoring and sustaining their interest in polo including Cindy Buchanan and Crosby Wood. Fred lives in Wellington, Florida with Linda Clark at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club. He continues to maintain his “Mallet Hill” farm and polo field in Cochranville, Pa. Mallet Hill has seen many fabulous days of polo that won’t be forgotten. Fred’s youngest son, Dana is married to Justine and practices law in Tennessee. Son Gene is married to Mia with one child. They also live in Florida. Fred’s son Paul, father of twins Christina and Andrew, died in 2008 from heart failure. Christina is in college, foxhunts and shows horses. Andrew is at U.VA where he plays polo. Fred’s daughter Karen has two daughters, Kim and Jennifer and they live in Colorado.
Left to right: Dixon Stroud, Fred Fortugno, and son’s Gene & Paul Fortugno.
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Brandywine Polo Club