Frederic “Fred” Straight
1941 – 2023
On September 12, 2023, Frederic “Fred” Straight transcended this life for his next grand adventure.
Born in 1941 in Manila, the Philippines, Frederic left his native tropical home to join his family in California in 1957. At age 18 he enlisted in the Army, using his talent for learning languages to become a specialized translator. Fluent in five languages, and able to converse in several more, Fred spent his adult life traveling the world with his family. His career took him to assignments in Hawaii, South Korea, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, and Guam, as well as eight different states within the US.
Preferring to stay busy, Fred tried to retire two times before the third one stuck, finally settling in the quiet oceanside town of Birch Bay with his wife. Fred made the most of his time in this area, enjoying his daily latte at Woods Coffee, meeting with his veteran’s group, and visiting the senior center. In June of 2023, Fred was diagnosed with advanced cancer. A lifelong scholar, Fred found peace and comfort from his studies of Buddhism in his final weeks. He lived all his 82 years quite fully, and fearlessly faced his next adventure in the same way he faced this life; with an eager heart, a curious spirit, and an appetite for a delicious meal!
He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Cris, his son Freddie, daughter Mennelle, and grandsons Nick, Christopher, and Ben. He is also survived by his siblings, Joseph Jr., Maryanne, Jane, Frank, Mary Louise, Christian, and Marilyn. He was preceded in death by his loving parents Joseph and Nita, as well as his brother David.
