Donald Davidson Fredrickson III
August 1, 1960 – April 19, 2014
Resident of Capitola
His life was big, brilliant, boundless and beautiful.
Big in its scope, from birth in California to upbringing in New Jersey, with a wide range of scholastic (as well as decidedly non-academic forays) through Ohio State University, Outward Bound in Maine, and in California at the Maritime Academy in Vallejo, and with degrees achieved at Cabrillo College and San Jose State University.
Brilliant in his endeavors, which between high school and college included work in heavy equipment and as a maintenance worker in New Jersey, and delivering landscape materials in the Monterey Bay area. Car and retail clothing sales, customer service, grocery cart corral construction, metal working, and Capitola nightclub bouncer were among the other jobs that made their way onto his resume.
His introduction to high tech came through Digimedics, a Santa Cruz medical computer company. He delved into photography both artistically and in the commercial realm, working for the Homes & Land and Coastal Homes Magazines.. His lifelong learning and development and bold business ventures continued through the co-founding of Got.Net, a Santa Cruz Internet company which he piloted through 17 years of the ups-and-downs of high tech. His most recent tenure was as a Data Center Manager at UC Santa Cruz.
Boundless he was in his courage and kindness, and he taught us how inexorably those two traits are linked. His courage was eloquently expressed through his recovery from addiction and later as he journeyed with cancer. Boundless is the gratitude from all who love him for the extraordinary care provided through Stanford University Medical Center, led by Dr. Colevas and Dr. Hwang.
He left us in the morning on April 19th, with his Mom and Jennifer by his side. His departure, typical of his life, was dignified, gentle, and courageous.
Beautiful in the many lives he touched in such profound ways ~ as a son, as a brother, as a soul mate, as a father/father figure, as a mentor, as an inspiration, as a confidant, as a co-conspirator, as a playmate, as a teacher, and as a dear, dear friend. We honor and celebrate him in all the ways he taught and touched us.
Don is survived by his mother, Margaret Lynn Fouts Fredrickson of Chester, New Jersey; father Donald of Pacific Grove, California; as well as life partner Jennifer Pitino and son Daniel George both of Capitola, California.
In addition to a magnificent extended family and a brilliant and extensive network of friends, Don also leaves two sisters and two brothers: Kristi of Salinas, California; Robert of Chamblee, Georgia; David of Flower Mound, Texas; and Nancy of Center Sandwich, New Hampshire.
His wishes will be honored by having his ashes placed in the Memorial Redwood Grove at Mountain Home Ranch in Calistoga. Details of this memorial service will come. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice of Santa Cruz County and to CaringBridge.org would be meaningful tributes.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Apr. 25, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Fredrickson

Sponsored by santacruzsentinel.com.

21 Entries

Tim Jackson

April 19, 2022

Well Don, my friend, with your help I'm still clean and sober for almost too many years to count. Proof that the actions of a single person can have profound effects in the lives of others. In some ways, I wish I had never left Santa Cruz so I could have been around to help you during YOUR tough moments in life. The best I can do is try to be a good example and friend to someone else in need. I pray we'll meet again in the next phase of our existence. Tim

Daniel George

September 23, 2021

Although i did not know my dad for long, The 10 long years he spent in my life will never be forgotten, i love him and miss him every day.

Tim Jackson

April 19, 2021

Still thinking about you friend. I hope your spirit is in an awesome place!!

Tim Jackson

April 19, 2019

Don was calm, self-assured, confident, funny, respectful, conscientious, and truly caring of others. You really couldn't ask for a better friend. On more than one occasion, I saw Don sacrifice his own time and his own needs to help someone else in need. I can personally attest to this fact. If the world was filled with Dons, there would be no wars or famines. Even though I only knew him for a short 2 years or so, I still feel a sense of loss. I was actually trying to look him up via Google search when I learned of his passing. Maybe we can meet again someday in the afterlife. Hope so!

Tim Jackson

February 8, 2019

I just happen to do a Google search on Don and found that he had passed. Man did I well up with tears. I met Don at a recovery meeting back in the mid 80s. He became one of the best friends I've ever had. I've always been an underachiever and generally a failure. Don did he very best to bring the best of me out. He would tell me that I'm underestimating myself and that I should set more goals and take more risks. He lived by his own words. I never did. He loved life and was a bright star on earth. I wish I could trade places with him. Sorry to see you go old friend. We were almost exactly the same age (both born in 1960). Don: I hope you're in a beautiful place!!!!

Baron DuPont

March 27, 2018

It's taken me a few years to do this, but I've needed all of this time to process the impact Don had on my life.
I met Don in 1990. He was working the door at the Edgewater, in Capitola Village. I was young, broke and lost! I was too arrogant to let him know just how desperate I was.he wasn't fazed by the likes of me. Don saw fit to rent me a room in his house (knowing I was pennyless). After a few weeks of avoiding Don, because a could not pay rent, he did the most amazing thing. When I woke up and saw him, he did not shame me, he simple said, "I found you a job at Round Table and you start tomorrow". I worked myself out of desolation with Don's guidance, love, discipline and trust. With Don, I became a productive member of society. I was not the only "Pet Project" Don would ever undertake, but with Don's help I was able to become a man. Don had help transform countless lives. His transformative maner touched many lives, in a selfless and giving maner.In a funny note, I will always remember Don and 1499 Clair's street. I was very furntunate to spend thousands of hour with don through good times and bad(mostly good)! He was a wood chopping, fishing loving, brainiac. Abeautiful man. I remember getting Don a job as a group home counselor back in the mid 90s. He proceeded to bond with those boys very quickly. He would tose them around in resseling matches and watch R rated movies late into the night. I would laugh at his disregard for the Group Home house rules! knowing that these kids where in the company of a great mentor and were lucky to be in his presence. As I was.

One day I heard don was driving the van (loaded with boys) on a mountain road ( and for some reason decided to open his door to do something) and fell out of the van! One of the boys quickly jumped into the drivers seat and gained control and stopped the van,immediately. That night, I sat and listened to Don tell me how this all transpired with amazement. I would give anything to have another night like that, now. I remember the compassion and intrigue I felt listening to him describe the perdicimant he went through. Nevertheless, intuitively, I knew and deeply understood -how lucky I was, to be apart of such and interesting and powerful experience known as Don Fredrickson-A great lifeforce, of a man, as he.

Jamin Cleveland

July 7, 2014

I'm long gone from Got.Net. Worked there about 14 years ago now. It was my first job in the IT industry and the start of a fulfilling and lucrative career that continues today.

I just found out about Don's passing, and I was stunned. At first by the news (he was far too young), and then by the depth of sadness I felt. He was a good man as all of you know, but I honestly talked with him maybe a total of three times in the last decade. I asked myself, why is his passing affecting me so profoundly?

I had to talk about it with my wife before I could figure it out.

Don gave me my start, as I mentioned, and I remember that interview like it was yesterday. He told me point blank that I basically had zero marketable IT skills on my resume but that Got.Net was looking for people who were hungry. I'm starving, I told him. I remember he smiled a little at that. Well, Got.Net is a company geared toward training new talent, he said. We can start you at $9 an hour and see how it goes.

There were no IT degree programs back then. There were computer science programs--which I had neither the head for nor any interest in--but nothing purely IT. I was six years into a two year literature degree at Cabrillo, and an opportunity like this was really my _only_ opportunity for a better life. Don took a chance on me, as he did for many people like me, and because of that my children will have a significantly better start in life than they would have otherwise.

And I think that's why I'm so saddened by his passing. When it's all said and done, Don was a force for good in this world. He found a way to use what he had to give people a leg up. The world needs more people like that, not fewer.

The only solace I, and I hope his family and friends, can take from this is that he lived. And by living the way that he did he inspired in me and the many others he helped to carry on his tradition of helping people, of using what we have to give people a chance to work hard and better their lives in the process.

I'll never forget you or what you did for me and my family, Don. Thank you.

Vernon Bohr Jr.

July 5, 2014

I just found out that Don has passed. I'm shocked and taken aback.

Though I never spent a lot of time with Don, I felt like he was one of those kindred souls and spirits. I first met Don in the beginning when got.net started up and would come to speak with him from time to time over the ensuing years.

You will be missed Don....

Vernon Bohr...aka...VernonVernonVernon...Vcubed

Aaron McDonald

May 20, 2014

Very sorry about your loss. I knew Don from working with Got.net. He was always a great guy and I am going to miss him!

May 4, 2014

Fredrickson Family..so sorry for your loss

Ray & Gail Loretta

Joan Rice

April 30, 2014

Don, I miss your smile and laughter. I will never forget the smile and feeling of security you gave me when I fell in the water on the river rafting trip. Whenever I think of you, I always smile. You are missed my many, including me.

April 27, 2014

Sigh.... I will miss your kindness, patience, humor, playfulness and caring nature and incredible courage, but will forever hold you in my heart. The world is so much better for all the lives you touched in, oh, so many ways.
Marjorie

Uncle Robby

April 25, 2014

On the feathers of his wings blew the wind of eternal friendship and hope

Donna Gritton

April 25, 2014

Don, you will be forever missed. Your love of life was contagious and you taught so many of us the true value of life.

Beth Riley

April 25, 2014

Blessings to you all as you grieve and celebrate this beautiful life.

With honor and respect
Beth P Riley

Lora Martin

April 25, 2014

Big Brilliant Boundless and Beautiful describe both Don and this exquisitely written tribute to this wonderful man. He will be missed but remembered with warm smiles.

April 25, 2014

Kennan Ward Don will be remembered and missed! He was a business friend, neighbor and inspiration. We are better people because Don was in our life's ! With love, Kennan & Karen Ward.

Jennifer/Daniel Pitino Fredrickson

April 25, 2014

You will live forever in our hearts, dear Donny D. ??

April 25, 2014

I'm so sad and shocked to hear. I worked with Don and shared his upstairs at Got.net. He was always so kind. One quick story. I was setting up a table that was damaged when moving in to Got.Net, and I left it on the floor to be worked on later. That evening Don saw it, and without any hesitation, he fixed it. It was so kind knowing I didn't have the handyman skills. RIP Don, you will be missed, but will always be loved!

Rick A.

April 25, 2014

Don you are an inspiration to us all, your gentle loving humble manor isms that have touched our hearts will be charished. The men from stag 11 are with you Monday Nights and this week end at our placket creek camp out as we are sure you are looking down on us. Rest in Peace we love you! Rick A.

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