Fred Kareman was born Spiro Kacramanous in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on June 24, 1930, the son of Greek immigrants who later anglicized their last name to Kareman. As for the name Fred, Kareman adopted it in high school when, after tiring of teachers mispronouncing his given name, he broke into the school at night and wrote an "F." in front of the ...