Frederick Steingress

STEINGRESS
Frederick (Chief), 89, of Mendon, Vermont, died October 30, 2014, at Our House Residential Care Home in Rutland, Vermont.
Fred was born January 4, 1925 in West New York, NJ, to Fritz and Katie (Lapsanski) Steingress, the oldest of three children. He graduated from East Rutherford High School in 1943, leaving school early to accept an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.
While serving his country in the Merchant Marines, Fred sailed Liberty Ships in all three war zones, earning the Merchant Marine Combat Bar and Star when his ship was torpedoed and sunk, and the Mariner's Medal for the injuries he received. After the war, Fred spent a year at sea sailing for the Alcoa shipping company.
Following in his father's footsteps, Fred became a Stationary Engineer. He attended Fairleigh Dickenson University to obtain his teaching license and then founded the Stationary Engineering Program at Bergen Technical High School in Hackensack, NJ. He taught for over 30 years in both the day and night programs and was lovingly referred to as "The Chief" (engineer). As a teacher, he always saw the best in his students and had high expectations for them. Right up until his death, he delighted in hearing from "his boys," who had gone on to enjoy successful careers thanks in part to their excellent education at Bergen Tech.
Fred was the highly respected author of three Stationary Engineering textbooks, all of which became best sellers for American Technical Publishers. He wrote for the common man, preferring a down-to-earth writing style that made his books a classroom staple. Stationary Engineering students today still use his Low Pressure Boilers book (first printed in 1970, now in its 4th edition).
In 1946, Fred married his high school sweetheart, Millie Gaito, and together they raised five children in Westwood, NJ. After they both retired from teaching, Fred and Millie moved to Mendon, VT, where they purchased Mendon Mountain Orchards and began second careers as farmers, inn keepers, and bakers. Many remember the "Apple Man" from the Saturday Farmer's Market, where Fred never let a child pass his booth without giving them a just-polished apple. Before he went out on errands, he was sure to fill his pockets with apples to hand out to bank tellers, store clerks, and friends.
Fred was an animal lover, who captivated listeners with his story of Poop Deck Charlie, the arctic owl he adopted on a post-war voyage to the tropics. The family home in New Jersey was a refuge for birds, rabbits, skunks, stray cats and dogs, and even an orphan duck. In Vermont, many a stray dog and cat found their way to the orchard; Fred and Millie adopted them all.
Those who knew Fred will remember - he drank his coffee black with two ice cubes; he loved to visit with store customers; he loved NJ junk day!; he was a loving and devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather; he could find anything we lost and fix anything we broke; he was a wonderful teacher-mentor-friend; he had a great sense of humor and an easy smile. Anyone associated with the Rutland County Farmer's Market will remember him as Mr. September in the farmer's Local Exposure calendar.
Fred is survived by his wife Millie of Mendon, VT; sons Rick Steingress and Rob Steingress, both of Georgetown, SC; daughters Gail Haynes, of Wilder, VT, Beth Charles, of Mendon, VT, and Carol Steingress, of Windsor, VT; sisters Barbara Algozzini and Nancy Bergested, both of NJ; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be held at 11 AM Friday, November 7, 2014, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 60 S. Main St, Rutland, VT. A graveside service with military honors will follow at Mendon Mountain Orchards Cemetery on the Knoll. Memorial contributions may be made to The Rutland County Humane Society, 765 Stevens Rd, Pittsford, VT 05763.