Fred reached out to me back around 2000 when we were digitizing all the albums. He wanted to say excited he was about hearing his album again and to share with me his love for the Four Freshman – he had sent along a CD of theirs. That began a wonderful friendship between an older man and a not-so-old man that made it a good 15 years. We invited Fred to the join the board as our “gray hair” and he did. He made most of the calls and always was supportive and kind. He made several of the board retreats up to Lynn’s paradise in Waterville Valley, NH, and scaled the trail to the top of Mt. Osceola where we sang Loch Lomond and other songs. He ventured out to the Bay Area to join many of us who sing in men’s chorus in San Francisco and up to our leafy temple in the Redwoods of Sonoma County. I made it down to Tucson a few times to see his lovely life there and to enjoy his tranquility. Fred was an inspiration to so many of us – a man who showed what it meant to grow old gracefully and with many friends. I will deeply miss him.
-From Steve Dostart, H86, K84-85
He was indeed a strong, generous Krok who was always interesting and relevant. At Retreat he certainly had the right mix of gravitas and joie de vivre. He was sincere in his devotion to the group as well as individuals he got to know. The Kroks became part of his family again in his old age. He is a great man whom we will miss. Life got harder for him as his hearing deteriorated even further, but he remained interested and resisted getting sidelined. I, like so many, will miss him too. I recently ran across a picture of an earlier Retreat summit pic with Fred right there smiling on top of Osceola! May we long remember Fred and all he brought and gave to the Kroks, both as a young man and an old man. And may he somehow hear our singing him Danny Boy, “kneeling and saying an ‘ave’ there for him.”
-With fond, warm memories, Lynn Weigel H70, K70
HELLER, Frederick, (May 5, 1932 – February 22, 2018) Frederick Heller of Tucson, Arizona passed away peacefully in his home on February 22, 2018 at the age of 85. He was one of two sons born to Robert and Lois Heller in Detroit, Michigan. The family moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he spent his childhood. After graduating from University School in 1950, he attended Harvard University and was among the earliest members of the storied male vocal group, The Krokodiloes, of which he remained a loyal participating alumnus. Upon graduating from Harvard in 1954, ‘Fred’ served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army with an artillery unit in Germany until 1956. Returning to his native Cleveland, he had a short employment with the Lincoln Electric Company before joining the Hanna Mining Company where he remained for the next thirty years. He rose to Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing and oversaw Hanna’s development of international sales and worldwide expansion. Fred moved to Arizona in 1987 and lived in Sonoita for a few years before settling in Tucson. He embraced his new community in Arizona and all that it had to offer. While in Sonoita he participated in the Sonoita-Elgin Emergency Services as well as the Santa Cruz County Search and Rescue organization. He served as a trustee for Research Ranch. After then moving to Tucson, his passion for music and helping others drew him in to the Tucson Junior Strings where he served on their Executive Committee. He also served on the Executive Committee for the Tucson Botanical Gardens. He loved the outdoors, and especially enjoyed hiking the trails in the Catalina Foothills area with his dear friend and companion Debbie Ives. Fred was a ‘people person’ who thrived on interacting with friends and neighbors in various settings such as University of Arizona softball games, playing tennis at the Tucson Racquet Club, golfing at the Tucson Country Club or The Gallery, dining at the Mountain Oyster Club, or chatting with the staff at his ‘happy place’ Trader Joes. He was a loyal friend and neighbor who could be counted upon to lend a hand or a kind word, solve problems and make his community a better place for one and all. Fred is survived by his two sons, Thomas M. Heller (Boston, MA), Dr. John G. Heller (Atlanta, GA), and his daughter, Cynthia R. Heller (Boulder, CO), as well as five granddaughters, Laura Flynn George and Hannah C. Heller (Atlanta, GA), Lt. Kimberley J. Heller (U.S. Marines), Julia M. Heller and Tessa M. Heller (Boston, MA), and companion Debbie Ives of Tucson. A Memorial will take place at his home at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2018. In lieu of flowers, Fred would prefer that donations be made to the Tucson Community Food Bank. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, Dodge Chapel.
-Published in the Arizona Daily Star on Mar. 4, 2018
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?n=frederick-heller&pid=188355756&fhid=2500
What a gentle soul – I will miss him. He always had a way of focusing on you when he spoke with you.
–Arnie Servais, H70 – K68, K69, K70
Fred was one of the kindest, humblest, and most gracious men. It was an effort for him to come out east for Krok events, particularly the NH retreat, but he did it all with sunniness and a generosity of spirit. His acts of friendship were unexpected and open-hearted. He would sometimes send us tickets to NYC events he couldn’t attend. A few years back he drove up to Phoenix to have dinner and drinks when I was there on business, booking a room at the same hotel to avoid the late night drive back. The stories flowed (many involving his old roommate Teddy Kennedy), until we were both nearly collapsing with laughter. He loved the Kroks, he worked hard to involve the guys in his era in alum events, and we are lucky to have had him among us.
-Peter Lerangis, H77- K75, K76, K77
Fred was my classmate and fellow Krok and a very fine man. I have often thought over the years that Fred was a good model for everyone; an exemplar of good citizenship through his participation in his community, his various communities, including the Krokodiloes, his loyalty to his family and friends, including his extended family in Cambridge. Fred displayed the character and integrity we should all aspire to. And he displayed those virtues all his life. He was the same person when I met him in 1952.
Ed Bursk, H54 – K53, K54