Gene A. Freid Sr.
June 13, 1938 - April 12, 2011
Gene A. Freid Sr., 72, of Clay, passed away Tuesday. Born in Naples, NY, he retired a Captain after 22 years in the Air Force and retired from Agway Corp. in 1996. He graduated from Syracuse University and held a Masters Degree from Texas A&M . Through out his career he also was a professor at various schools like Syracuse University, Maryland, Auburn, Le Moyne, Oswego, and OCC.
While teaching at SU he had the honor of recruiting Eileen Collins into the Air Force ROTC program and mentoring her through the program. Eileen eventually went on to become the first female to pilot a Space Shuttle into space.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Claudette; a brother James; a daughter, Deborah; three sons, Gene Jr., James and Alex Freid, as well as a daughter in law, Trish Freid, who is married to Alex.
He spent a lot of time in the childrens early years coaching Little League Baseball and was nicknamed The Commish for his ability to organize and plan. He was an avid golfer and was often found out on the course with friends and/or family.
He has a long list of grandchildren and one great grand child on the way. The grand children are;
Christopher 27
Daryl 25 - expecting the first great grand child
Taylor 20
Ryan 19
Samantha 19
Kyle 17
Tyler 17
Dylan 15
Alyx 15
Franchesca 10
Nicole 6
Nathan 4
Bella 2
Can you match the grand kids to the kids?
Services will be Saturday, 9AM at St. John's Church, Liverpool. Burial will follow at the Onondaga Co. Veteran's Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 4-7 PM at New Comer Funeral Home, 705 N. Main St., N. Syracuse.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association