Amherst, Frederick Jimmy Cortes, known as Freddy to his family, died on May 26, 2018 at Baystate Hospital after a brief illness. Born on August 9, 1946 at Brooklyn Hospital, he was the eagerly awaited third child and only son of Esther Mercado and Federico Cortes. Freddy was the beloved brother of Lydia Cortes of New York City and Sonia Nieto (his guardian for the past 30 years) and brother-in-law Angel Nieto of Amherst. He is survived by many nieces and nephews in Massachusetts, as well as cousins in Puerto Rico, New York, Florida, and other places around the country. Always a sweet and loving man, Freddy had a special skill in solving jigsaw puzzles. He loved easily and enjoyed music and every kind of Puerto Rican food. Freddy was unable to attend public school as he was raised before education and other support services were available to the developmentally disabled. He remained in his parents’ home until his mid-thirties after his father died. In 1979, 3 years after Massachusetts passed Chapter 766 providing services to children and adults with special needs, Sonia and Angel were finally able to convince Esther to move to Amherst, something she only agreed to when she was persuaded that Freddy would be placed in a loving home. Freddy was subsequently placed in one of the first community settings for adults with autism, Down’s Syndrome, and other conditions, the last of which was a beautiful home in Wilbraham where Sonia and Angel were able to visit and spend time with him. The family is forever grateful to the loving care he received from all his caregivers at these homes. Calling hours will be on Thursday, May 31 from 5-7 pm at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 No. Pleasant Street in Amherst. In lieu of flowers, please support one of the following organizations that provide help, education, and other services to developmentally disabled children and adults: The May Institute: https://www.mayinstitute.org/; Autism Connections: https://autismconnectionsma.org/; Whole Children: https://www.wholechildren.org/