Remembering Our Friend and Colleague, Eddie de Freitas

We, the members of the PIL Hall of Fame Board of Directors, are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague, Edward de Freitas, on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026.

A 1969 graduate of Roosevelt, Eddie was an outstanding three-sport star whose athletic achievements earned him induction into the PIL Hall of Fame in 2011. But his contributions to the high school he loved and the PIL in general extended far beyond his playing days.

“He was truly the heart and soul of so many of our endeavors,” said John Dunn, PIL Hall of Fame board president. “He served faithfully on our board and executive committee and was a dedicated chairperson of the Roosevelt High School selection committee, overseeing nominations of the school’s athletes to the Hall of Fame.

“Eddie worked tirelessly to ensure that deserving individuals received the recognition they earned, and he was always enthusiastically on the hunt for our next inductees. He was a gentle giant who will be remembered as a deeply kind, caring and giving person. His profound commitment to local athletes leaves a legacy that will never be forgotten.”

Fellow Roosevelt alums and PIL Hall of Famers Jim Kennison and Dr. Kerry Biermann remember their longtime friend as a “savant” when it came to his knowledge of PIL sport figures and events.

“You could ask him any question about the league, and he could answer it without using Google or any other resource,” Kennison said. “And, he always had a good word for anyone he ever spoke about. He will be missed greatly.”

“Eddie would often say something like, ‘You remember so and so who played for this high school and went on to play for this college,’” Biermann added. “Then he would describe athletic awards they won, even details about their professional and personal lives. And this was not just Roosevelt athletes.”

In an email to Roosevelt High School Alumni Association board members, the organization’s vice president Megan Hall wrote: “Eddie championed so many of our athletic history efforts and always wanted to ensure that the accomplished athletes from Roosevelt High School would not be forgotten. He was a wealth of knowledge, and even as his health declined, he continued to play an active role in the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

“Eddie was a kind friend, and it is hard to express how much we will miss him,” Hall added, a sentiment that is shared by all of us at the PIL Hall of Fame.

Eddie's Official Obituary

Edward Thomas "Eddie" de Freitas, the youngest of five children of Mildred and Jim de Freitas, was born in Portland, Oregon, June 2, 1951, and passed away on August 29, 2026, with his daughter, Angela Nuserik, by his side.

He is survived by his brother, Dennis de Freitas, of Pleasanton, California, and sister, Susan de Freitas Reid, of Vacaville, California. He was preceded in death by sisters Judy de Freitas Harvey and Millie de Freitas Daniels.

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Eddie was an All-City football player at Roosevelt High School and was later Inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League Hall of Fame.

Eddie will be deeply missed by his family, friends, former teammates and the Roosevelt community. His memory will live on not only through those who loved him, but also through the athletes whose accomplishments he helped ensure would be remembered and honored.

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In accordance with Eddie's wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service. In lieu of flowers, Eddie requested that those wishing to honor his memory make a donation to the Roosevelt High School athletic program, an organization that remained especially meaningful to him throughout his life.

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