Frederick Carl Matthaei Jr.

1925 - 2016

MATTHAEI

FREDERICK CARL, JR. Frederick C. Matthaei, Jr. Passed peacefully on June 2nd, 2016, at his daughters' home in Oakham Massachusetts, surrounded by his family, overlooking beautiful Brooks Pond. He was 90 years old.

Fred was born in Detroit on October 20, 1925, son of Frederick Carl Matthaei, Sr. and Mildred (Mimi) Hague Matthaei. His grandparents had a grocery store and butcher's shop in downtown Detroit. As a child, Fred's father delivered milk to customers in a horse-drawn cart. Fred's father rose to prominence as the owner and CEO of American Metal Products (AMP). He was a well-known philanthropist and Regent of the University of Michigan, known for his many contributions to the University, including the land for Radrick Farms Golf Course (named after his two sons, Kon-RAD and Frede-RICK), the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, and the Huron Valley Humane Society, as well as his hard work together with Fred Jr. in trying to bring the Olympic Games to Detroit.

Fred Jr. grew up in Detroit and Ann Arbor. Upon his graduation from Ann Arbor High School in 1943, he enlisted in the Navy, and served while a student for two years. He was discharged due to a football injury. Fred graduated from the University of Michigan in 1947 with a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Mechanical Engineering. In 1948, he married a fellow student, Mary Elizabeth ("Betty," and later Malora) AschenBrenner, and raised their five children in Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Fred described himself as an "entrepreneur and civic activist experienced in automotive parts manufacturing, corporate management, banking and finance, politics, lawsuits, community development, amateur athletics, and University of Michigan matters." He began his work life employed as an engineer at his father's automobile parts company, AMP, where he was proud to have worked his way from the bottom up, like other employees. At AMP, he helped develop adjustable seating tracks, and a prototype for an energy-efficient, compact car, called the Henry J.

In 1968, Fred purchased ARCO Industries, another automobile parts company, becoming its CEO and Chairman for many years. ARCO Industries grew to $9 million in sales under his management, as he expanded their product line. As a result of the environmental movement, which Fred supported, ARCO eventually came under scrutiny for its standard production practices, which were found to have been polluting the groundwater with toxic chemicals. Fred remediated the pollution, and spent years in costly litigation with his insurers before winning a precedent-setting settlement with them in 2001. Around the same time, in the area of finance, the Parson's group which he was a partner in, folded. These two endeavors brought him near bankruptcy. In the 1980s, Fred shifted his entrepreneurial energies into residential real estate development, creating many beautiful housing communities with his son Carl, including Bloomfield Woods in Bloomfield Hills and the Matthaei Farm in the Ann Arbor area.

Fred's work as a civic activist spanned many arenas. In the wake of the urban rebellion of 1967 in Detroit, sparked by police violence and concentrated inner city African American unemployment and poverty, Fred teamed up with Tom Borman (owner of Farmer Jack's stores) to load a semi truck with food and water to help residents of downtown Detroit. He joined the Virginia Park Rehabilitation Citizens Committee as an advisor to help in the city's rebuilding, and joined the Economic Development Corporation of Greater Detroit, chairing its board from 1968-1974. He was appointed in 1973 by Governor Milliken to the Board of Trustees of New Detroit, Inc. -- an organization of black and white leaders working to identify and eliminate racial disparities in the region by building economic equity, social justice and racial understanding -- serving as its chair in 1976 and 1977. A second key area of civic activism for Fred was the University of Michigan. Fred was a passionate "Michigan man" all of his life, and an avid fan of the Wolverines. He was a member of the U of M Club of Greater Detroit and its president in 1958-59. He served as Regent in his father's seat in 1967-68, and was active in the Alumni Association as life-time member, director, committee member, and president. Fred worked tirelessly to make the Matthaei Botanical Gardens a world-class facility, assisted in the expansion of the Huron Valley Humane Society (which had been built on land donated by his father and aunt Litta), and donated land for the Parker Mill park. He endowed a number of scholarships, including the Mildred Hague Matthaei Student Research Fund, in memory of his mother, and the Matthaei Family Athletic Scholarship to help deserving athletes fund their educational goals. Fred participated in his class' fund-raising drive for a reflecting pool adjacent to the Lurie Engineering Center on North Campus by gifting funds for what is known as "Fred's fountain" -- which he christened, at the pool's dedication, by jumping into it, in his suit! Fred's civic activism earned him recognition as "Honorary Citizen" of both Detroit and Ann Arbor, as well as numerous awards. In his hometowns of Birmingham and then Bloomfield Hills, Fred was best known for his service as governor of the Cranbrook Institute of Science, which he chaired in 1975 and 1976, and as founder and first president of the Birmingham Athletic Club.

Fred was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He traveled all over the far reaches of the world, often with his children and grandchildren. In the robotics world, "Grampa Fred" is a legend, as an avid supporter of his grandsons' team which won five World Championship titles. He was equally proud of the accomplishments of his granddaughters, Kaitlin, equestrian and Occupational Therapy student, and Ella, dancer, singer and teacher.

Fred was known by his friends, family, and colleagues for his unique ability to connect with all kinds of people and to bring them together to communicate, often to form a team with the goal of improving the community and world. He held onto his love for life and his adventuresome spirit up to the day he passed. Fred said many times that he had lived a wonderful life, had done everything he wanted to do, was grateful, and felt lucky. A teacher, inspiration, and adventurer, right to his very last breath, Fred will be sorely missed by his family, as well as by his community of friends and neighbors in Michigan and around the world.

Fred Matthaei is survived by his brother Konrad Matthaei; his sister-in-law Joan Anneberg; his four daughters, Julie Matthaei, Maru Matthaei, Amy Matthaei, and Mimi (Morgan) Crowther; his sons-in-law William Witter, William Crowther, and Germazion Medhanie; his nieces Marcella Matthaei, and Lisa and Karen Anneberg, and nephew Konrad Matthaei; his four grandchildren, Kaitlin, James, and Leland Crowther, and Ella Wechsler-Matthaei; and his grandnieces Evelyn AschenBrenner and Sophie Matthaei, and grandnephews Ken Erwood, and Konrad and Spencer Matthaei. He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Malora (Betty) and his son Carl.

Fred's four daughters will hold a memorial celebration in his honor at 2 p.m. on July 31 at the Orchard Lake Country Club, 5000 W Shore Drive, Orchard Lake. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to 248-647-4800.