Arthur Mccaffray, 72, Football Star And Frozen-Food Executive

Arthur J. McCaffray may have been a leader in the frozen-food game, linking big grocery buyers with berry and vegetable farmers.

And the former All-America football player, a native-born scion of the founders of National Frozen Food Corp., may have led NFFC through its busiest decades.

"Yet we were the only family in the industry who didn't have a freezer," laughed his wife, Marcella McCaffray of Seattle.

"Like the shoemaker's children going without shoes. But we didn't need it. We were a small family."

Not that the family of Mr. McCaffray, who died Monday at 72 of Alzheimer's disease, didn't eat frozen food. He claimed it was fresher than "fresh" because it was frozen within a day or two of picking.

"He was a brilliant guy with a lot of energy and pizazz," said his brother-in-law, Larry Anderson.

"In sales, he would have all these figures in his head. He amazed everybody, even his brothers who were in business with him . . . he'd know how many tons of peas they'd packed last year or five years ago."

Mr. McCaffray, a modest man who considered clients his friends, also enjoyed a reputation for honesty: His spoken word was his bond. He'd built rapport with farmers he'd come to know when he worked at the processing plant in Burlington after World War II.

"If there ever was a hail fellow well met, it was Artie," said Anderson. "He was always a cheerful guy, and would slap you on the shoulder and say, `Loosen your leggins.' "

Carl Schulmeister, also in the frozen-food business, remembers Mr. McCaffray as "a real salesman and a gentleman."

Mr. McCaffray grew up on Seattle's Capitol Hill and played football for Seattle Prep High School. He started college at Santa Clara University, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1941, was sent to College of the Pacific (now University of the Pacific) where he played tackle, and made All-America in 1943.

He went to Officers Candidate School, then served as platoon commander in Okinawa, Guam and Taipan, earning a Purple Heart and the rank of Captain.

On his return he married, and spent a year in Pittsburgh playing left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also played football for the Marine Corps team stateside during the Korean conflict.

He later enjoyed tennis; but family and business came first.

He won distinguished service awards from his schools, was active in his parish, and retired as chairman of National Frozen Food Corp. in 1991.

His wife recalls that a Pittsburgh Steelers coach told her husband, "I don't know how long you're gonna last because you're kind of small." Mr. McCaffray stood 6 feet, weighed 185 pounds and was nicknamed "The Watch-Fob Tackle."

"But he's the only one who played 60 minutes in every game," she said, "and this when they only had one team, not a defense and an offense like today."

Survivors include daughters Carol McCaffray of Seattle, and Marcie Rittler and her husband Peter Rittler, Issaquah; his sisters Jane Ashmun and Dorothea Hiltenbrand and her husband Robert Hiltenbrand, Seattle.

A requiem Mass is pending. Remembrances may be sent to the Alzheimer's Research Center, XD-43, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, or to Zoological Society of Washington, 19525 S.E. 54th St., Issaquah, WA 98027.