Remembering Bernie Rosen of Electro Freeze Tri-State
The Electro Freeze® family is deeply saddened by the passing of Bernie Rosen, founder of Electro Freeze Tri-State. He was a man whose legacy has left a significant mark on our company and the frozen treat industry. Bernie’s journey with Electro Freeze® began in 1965, when he and his business partner, Nick Setser, became distributors as Electro Freeze Tri-State. From the very beginning, Bernie was all-in, fully committed to the brand and passionate about the products he represented.
When Bernie eventually retired in 2009 his son-in-law, John Agliato, husband to Bernie’s daughter Beth, took over the business. After John’s sudden passing, his daughter, Analiese DeZenzo, stepped in to lead the company in 2020. Bernie’s son, Fred Rosen, then joined to support Analiese and help carry forward the family legacy. Today, Electro Freeze Tri-State proudly operates as a third-generation family business, rooted in the values Bernie instilled: loyalty, dedication, and pride in doing things the right way.
John Sacco, former Director of Admin of Electro Freeze®, recalls, “Bernie had the most interest in the line than anyone else. He was fully invested. Over the years, Bernie’s dedication helped Tri-State grow into one of the strongest distributors in the country. Tri-State became the very first distributor to achieve $1 million in sales, a milestone that was celebrated in true Electro Freeze® fashion. Their wives were secretly flown to the Distributor Meeting in East Moline. We even reserved them suites at the Holiday Inn. We were so dedicated in celebrating Bernie and Nick’s accomplishment that when we were approached by President George Bush’s staff to give up the rooms for their visit to the area, we refused! Our denial to the president ended up in the local news which made Tri-State’s milestone an even grander event. Bernie was always humbled by these moments even though his hard work made them possible.”
Bernie’s influence extended far beyond his own company. He mentored many in the industry, including Bob Romarino and Andy Crivaro of Sentry Equipment. Bob stated, “I fashioned my company after what Bernie and Nick did, including having a showroom for the machines to hold open houses. He was a gentleman and an excellent salesman who knew the industry inside and out. He was very willing to help other distributors and was a great man.”
Bernie also played a pivotal role in shaping the Electro Freeze® distributor network. As Andy Crivaro notes, “He was the one who started the distributor council to represent distributors throughout the company. He was chairman for years and ran it fairly. He was a good statesman and was passionate about Electro Freeze® because he believed in the machines and the people behind them.” Bernie was so dedicated to the brand that he often provided recommendations that would improve quality and efficiencies in our freezers. In the 90s, Electro Freeze® awarded Bernie the Persistence Award as a way to thank him for his recommendation to add an additional compressor to our freezers that would be solely responsible for keeping the CAB refrigerated. This improvement resulted in Electro Freeze® machines being more reliable and easier to service.
Beyond his business accomplishments, Bernie was a man of compassion and treated everyone he met with respect. He was a tough businessman when needed, but always fair, generous with his time, and committed to lifting others up. Bernie was a gentleman, known for his impeccable style, puzzle-solving skills, and love of magic tricks. “At distributor meetings, he would always do magic tricks,” John Sacco remembers. “He loved puzzles and wore a puzzle ring that only he could put back together. He was always dressed to the nines and a true class act.”
The Electro Freeze® family is grateful for Bernie’s decades of dedication and leadership. He was a true ambassador of the brand, helping guide Electro Freeze® through challenges and championing innovations that improved our machines and our company. We will miss Bernie’s wisdom, determination, and steady presence. Still, his legacy lives on in the many people and businesses he touched.
Thank you, Bernie, for everything.
