Introducing the 2025 Cultural Hall of Fame Inductees

Anthony V. Fasolo graduated from South Philadelphia High School for Boys in February 1955. He entered Temple University’s College of Education and graduated in February 1959 with a degree in Education, a State of Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate, and a commission in the US Army as a 2LT (Temple University’s ROTC Program).

The next 20 years were spent serving in the Army as an officer with a one-year break to teach at the Child’s School in South Philadelphia. After completing Infantry Officer Leaders’ Course at Fort Benning, in 1959, he was assigned to Combat Command A in the Third Armored Division in Germany as an Armored Rifle Battalion Platoon Leader. It was in Germany where he met and married Anna Flick in April 1961. He served nine years in the US Army, in Germany, Italy, Korea and Vietnam. During this time, he also earned two master’s degrees, an M.S. in Education from Boston University (Stuttgart, Germany campus) and a master’s in public administration from Penn State University (Harrisburg, campus). He retired in the rank of Lt Colonel in 1980.

After leaving the service he spent four years with Marriott as a Regional Director for Loss Prevention for a region of Marriott hotels and then two years as Director of Services at the five-star Bethesda Marriott hotel.

In 1987, he returned to the US Army, as a civilian, and completed four years of service as a Department of the Army Civilian near Pisa, Italy at Camp Darby, followed by three years as the Executive Officer of the 282d Base Support battalion at Hohenfels, Germany. This assignment was followed by service as a Program Analyst and later as Speechwriter in the headquarters of the Military Traffic Management Command in Virginia from He was then assigned to the Pentagon and the Department of the Army Staff the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, responsible for the collection and analysis of data for use in the Army’s budget for all Installations worldwide. He is a 9/11 Survivor.as he was in bay 1E677 on September 11, 2001, when terrorists attacked the Pentagon. He completed his time in the Civil Service and left the Pentagon on September 30, 2002.

Since 2003 he has been a substitute teacher in the Loudoun County Public School System, taught Leadership and Management classes for the University of Phoenix in Reston VA. and volunteered in the community. Currently a Commonwealth of Virginia Election Officer and the Chair of Loudoun County’s Commission On Aging. He has received many awards including Distinguished Military Graduate (Temple ROTC), Bronze Star (Achievement) for Service in Vietnam, Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal, and several Superior Civilian Service awards.

Anthony and his wife of 63 years, Anna, live in Leesburg Virginia and have three children and four grandchildren.

Freddie Reaux graduated from Southern in 1972. He was a member of the Orchestra, Marching Band, Choir and Dance Club. During his senior year at Southern Freddie was cast as Bernardo in West Side Story and it was that experience that led him to pursue a career in theater.

Freddie attended Point Park University as a dance major, performed with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and during summers, performed with Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. After his sophomore year, Freddie moved to New York City attended Harkness House for Ballet Arts for a year, then joined the George Faison Universal Dance Experience a concert dance company founded by George Faison the Tony Award winning choreographer of the hit Broadway musical The Wiz.

Freddie (theatrically known by his middle name Roumel Reaux) has worked in the entertainment industry for over 50 years as a dancer/singer/actor, assistant director/choreographer, dance captain, and/or stage manager on numerous Broadway productions, including Tony Award winning shows Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, Bob Fosse’s Big Deal, Crucifer of Blood and The Wiz; Tony nominated shows Five Guys Named Moe, and Radio City Music Hall’s Porgy and Bess. Off Broadway, Regional Theater, National and International Touring productions include Blackbirds Of Broadway, Three Mo’ Tenors, Church & State, Cookin’ At The Cookery, and Fuerza Bruta. He toured with Harry Belafonte in Concert as a featured vocalist.

As a teacher, Freddie (Roumel) has taught dance at such schools as the Alvin Ailey School (NYC), Baltimore High School of the Performing Arts, Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts (Wash, D.C.), Marygrove College (Detroit), Lehman College (NYC) and directed the Friends of Carter Barron Annual Summer Youth Musical in Washington, DC.

In 1991, Freddie (Roumel) choreographed and played the on-camera choreographer on one of the most popular episodes of television’s “Fresh Prince of Bel Air”. The iconic dance scene featuring Aunt Vivian is still a popular post on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. He is also one of the dancers on the 1982 Music Video of the Grammy nominated dance hit “It’s Raining Men”.

Freddie (Roumel) is co-writer/composer/director of MyPlate! The Food Guide Musical Program, a nutrition program teaching nutrition and exercise through educational theater. It is currently being implemented in public elementary schools in NYC and Los Angeles.

Eugene VanArsdale attended South Philadelphia High School from 1974 to 1977. He attributes being the man he is today to his family and Mr. Yates, who was not only his choir director but also his mentor. After graduation he attended Drexel University’s LeBow School of Business.

Eugene developed a relationship with a company called Keeler, which is an international company specializing in optometry and ophthalmic supplies. He rose through the ranks to his present position of Vice President of Business and Channel Manager. Eugene is also ambassador to Orbis International’s vision, which includes a flying eye hospital that travels the world to teach doctors how to perform eye surgery.

Eugene holds two patents. One for a face mask doctors use to change the color of their product. The second patent is called Vantage Plus Patent. This invention allows eye doctors to view the back of the eye and decide what treatment is needed. This device is used globally to save vision.

Eugene is also an advisor to Lensrxlab, the first Philadelphia-based Black American and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Ophthalmic goods manufacturer located in North Philadelphia.

Eugene married his best friend, Donna. They have three children and recently welcomed their first grandchild into the family. A second grandchild is expected in March 2025.

Eugene is a member of the Annunciation Parrish. In the spring of 2006 he came up with the idea and the design of the city’s first rosary-prayer garden. Two hundred people turned out for the dedication, where each piece was blessed, and now the spot rarely sees an hour pass without several visitors.