NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Fred B. Scerbo, 49, of 60 Harding Ave. died May 21, 2002, at the Center for Living and Rehabilitation of the Southwestern Vermont Medical Auxiliary in Bennington, Vt., where he had been admitted April 18.

He was a longtime educator in North Adams. a former city councilor, and an active member of the religious, civic, musical and political life in Northern Berkshire.

Born in North Adams on June 15, 1952, son of Eugene B. and Catherine R. Ghidotti Scerbo of North Adams, he was a 1970 graduate of Drury High School. While at Drury, he was the winner of the John H. Reilly Speaking Contest during his senior year.

He earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science from St. Anselm's College in Manchester, N.H., in 1974. While at St. Anselm's, he was a member and president of the Student Senate, as well as a member of the yearbook staff and the school newspaper. In 1977, he earned his master's degree in education, with a concentration in special education, from the former North Adams State College, now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Mr. Scerbo was employed as a special education teacher at Drury High School from 1979 until 1996, when he became the adjustment counselor at Conte Middle School in North Adams, maintaining that position to the present. He began teaching in 1975 as a permanent substitute teacher in the North Adams public school system. From 1977-1978, he was an educational consultant to the Division of Special Education of the Massachusetts Department of Education in Pittsfield. He was also appointed to the Pittsfield Regional Advisory Council for Special Education from 1977-1979.

Mr. Scerbo was prominent in the wrestling program at Drury High School as assistant head coach and then as head coach in 1994. He also was the state pairings director for the USA Wrestling program in Massachusetts and, in 1992, led an international exchange program between Drury High students and students in Sweden. During the 1990s, he established a wrestling program for the middle and elementary schoolchildren. He also was the boys' and girls' cross country coach at Drury.

At age 18, he was the youngest person to address a state convention and made a nomination speech for Jack Quinlan, Repubican candidate for lieutenant governor. Mr. Scerbo was a member of the North Adams Republican City Committee, serving as chairman several times. In 1983, he was elected to the C.H. McCann School Committee and held that seat until the present. In 1989, he was elected to the North Adams City Council with the highest vote count in the city. He was a political commentator on election nights.

Also a musician, he played the accordion, piano, organ, guitar and bass. A lifelong communicant of St. Anthony of Padua Church, he served several terms on its Parish Council and was a lector and cantor for church services. He had served as church organist at St. Anthony since 1995 and was currently serving as choir director and church organist for St. Francis of Assisi Church. This month, he was honored with the Charitable Citizen of the Year Award by the Lafayette-Greylock Lodge of Masons in North Adams for his service to the community.

Besides his parents, he leaves his wife, the former Ann Leonesio, whom he married July 20, 1990; two sisters, Mary Ann Caproni of North Adams and Rosemary Crouch of Adams, and a brother, Robert J. Scerbo of Williamstown. Other survivors include his beloved dog, Magic; nieces; nephews; a grandniece; aunts; uncles and cousins.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services will take place Friday, May 24, at 2 p.m. at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 3 at St. Francis of Assisi Church with the Rev. Daniel J. O'Hear, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, as the main celebrant. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Thursday, May 23, from 4 to 8.

The omission of flowers is requested. Any memorial donations are suggested for the Fred B. Scerbo Memorial Fund, St. Anthony Church or the Palliative Care Initiative of the Southwestern Vermont Medical Auxiliary at the Centers of Living and Rehabilitation, through the funeral home, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247.