Penfield – Passed away peacefully on February 7, 2022, at the age of 82. Predeceased by his beloved wife of 52 years, Ivy Carol Trautman, brother James William, and sister Donna Lee. Fred is survived by his loving children, Kellie Clarey, Lori (Jeff) Pfohl, and Cheri Crist; grandchildren Kelsey, Lindsey, Leah, Onnika, and Raena, and three great-grandchildren.
Fred would be the first one to say he had a hell of a life. Born to Chester Crist and Agnes Goldie, he was raised in the steel town of Johnstown, PA, and always planned to go to work in the mills like his old man. After marrying in 1959, he and his wife lived briefly in Detroit before Fred was drafted into the United States Army at the age of 23. He served in Germany as a missile crewman during the Vietnam War, where he earned a sharpshooting medal and played for his battalion’s basketball team. Fred and Carol relocated to Rochester, NY, where Fred worked for Gleason Works and Xerox. Using money from the GI Bill, he took night classes and earned a bachelor’s degree in business from SUNY Brockport. Fred helped to lead Xerox’s first forays into computer programming before deciding that the corporate life wasn’t for him. He left Xerox and found work as a landscaper at Stanton Landscaping, ultimately purchasing the company with a partner. He owned and operated Stanton Landscaping until his retirement in 2005.
Fred and his wife shared a love of travel, particularly to Mexico, where they took many trips with their children and their families. Fred had a deep love of film and music—especially the music of Mario Lanza; he and his wife enjoyed their many trips to Philadelphia for the annual Mario Lanza Ball. Fred was also a member of the Flower City Jazz Society. Most of all, he was proud of his family and the love they shared. He was a kind, funny, and loving man whose life was an example of the values he held dear. As his friend recently noted, “He didn’t have a mean bone in his body.”
Those wishing to honor Fred’s memory may make a gift to the Mario Lanza Institute, 1214 Reed St., Philadelphia, PA, 19147, www.mariolanzainstitute.org.
There will be a celebration of life at a later date, according to Fred’s wishes.