Long time Maine Masters member Peter Fredericks passed away on July 25th after a long battle with cancer. He will be missed by all of us in Maine Masters, below is a reprint of his obituary.
Peter F. Fredericks, 66 WILTON -- Peter Francois Fredericks, 66, a resident of Wilton, died Wednesday, July 25, 2007, at his home following a long illness. He was born in Teaneck, N.J., on Oct. 31, 1940, the son of Francois DeVaux and Marion (Vandeweghe) Fredericks. He attended Essex Junction High School in Vermont prior to graduating from the University of Vermont in 1967 with a degree in agricultural economics. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1962. On Aug. 26, 1967, he married Barbara Kaldy in Pittsford, Vt., and moved to Maine to begin his 33 year career with International Paper Co. He worked for International Paper Co., at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay from 1967 to 2000. He began his career as a Process Engineer (Environmental Group), and then advanced from the Pulp Mill Foreman to Superintendent of the Ground Wood Department. He was later QIP Facilitator and ended his career as a leader of Special Projects-Cost Reduction before retiring. He was a member of the IP Quarter Century Club, a leader of the Supervisor's Club of IP, and a participant in T.A.P.P.I. (Mechanical Pulp End Division). Peter was an avid sportsman who enjoyed skiing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, swimming and being a student of Shotokan karate. He began competitive swimming while in the military and college, and then continued the sport through the Maine Masters Swim Club. Peter had the ability to compete in freestyle, butterfly, and backstroke, as well as breaststroke. He was ranked number six among the USA Senior Masters swimmers in the breaststroke. In over 15 years as a Maine Masters swimmer Peter compiled 55 Top-Ten times for the State of Maine (13 of which are individual state records and three state relay records). While competing in the 60-64 age group, he established State of Maine records for the 50,100 and 200 Breaststroke for both short course yards (SCY) and long course meters (LCM). For short course meters (SCM) he compiled six State of Maine records for the breaststroke. He entered many canoe and kayak races Peter F. Fredericks over the years, but his passion was sailing along the Maine coast, taking family and friends on voyages throughout Penobscot Bay. Peter began training in karate in 1973 and continued its study for 34 years through his affiliation with the Maine Shotokan Karate Association as one of the instructors. He is one of 18 fourth degree black belts in the USA according to the records of the Shotokan Karate International Federation. He was a Boy Scout growing up and became an adult leader for troops in Jay and Wilton. He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in Farmington and an advisor to the youth group. Peter was very devoted to his family and friends and he cherished the many special gatherings and occasions held by them. His cheerfulness, sense of humor and genuine good nature brought joy to everyone. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years of Wilton; four brothers, Francz Fredericks and his wife Betsy Sokolaski of Malone, N.Y., Robert Fredericks and his wife Dianna of Colchester, Vt., James Fredericks and his companion, Joanne Hanowski of Underhill, Vt. and John Fredericks and his wife Becky of Colchester, Vt.; two sisters, Janet Fredericks and her husband Thomas Verner of Lincoln, Vt., and Gabrielle Hammond and her husband James of Colchester, Vt.; 17 nieces and nephews and three godchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug., 2, at St. Joseph's Church in Farmington. Visiting hours 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Finley Funeral Home, 15 Church St., Livermore Falls. Following the Mass a reception will be held at St. Joseph's Hall with interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Livermore Falls. Messages of condolence may be sent to finley@exploremaine.com. If desired, contributions may be made in his memory to:
The Androscoggin Home Health & Hospice P.O. Box 797 Wilton, Maine 04294 or the Brainscience Foundation 277 Linden St. Suite #207 Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482
