Frederick J. Viles Jr.

MASHPEE - Frederick J. Viles Jr., 91, of Mashpee, formerly of Norwood, died at home on June 9, 2007. He was the husband of Elsie R. (Praetsch) Viles.

Born on Aug. 16, 1915, to Anna and Frederick J. Viles, he was the oldest of six children and lived a long, healthy and accomplished life.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from MIT and his Master of Science degree in industrial hygiene from Harvard in 1947.

During World War II, he served in the Navy for five years in his related field. He was a research fellow at Harvard for four years and a member of several honor societies including Alpha Chi Sigma at MIT, and Delta Omega and Sigma Xi, both at Harvard.

Frederick was in the forefront of the environmental movement being a founding member in 1939 of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and a member of the Air Pollution Control Association as well as other related professional societies.

In his professional life, he worked in the field of industrial hygiene at Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., MIT and Harvard. He served as a consultant to over 50 companies, published 36 professional papers, produced four U.S. patents and one Canadian patent. Frederick was a visiting lecturer in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at both the Harvard School of Public Health and Northeastern University.

As for his personal life, he loved opera, classical music, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, TV, golf, working in his den, creating an extensive video library, and especially enjoyed times with his family. Since 1947, he and his family have vacationed at Popponesset Beach, and he retired there several years ago.

Having a keen mind, he continued to use his knowledge and expertise by presenting a detailed presentation to the Town of Mashpee that resulted in revolving a neighborhood environmental issue only a few years before his passing.

Frederick lived his 91 years as he wanted.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his two daughters, Patricia Viles Antonellis of Sharon and Mashpee, and Elaine Crowell of Walpole and Mashpee; a brother, Paul Vile of Dedham; and a sister, Marjorie Kelley of Westwood. Also surviving him are three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. He is the brother of the late Phyllis O'Malley, the late Joseph Viles, and the late Donald Viles.

Visiting hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m., on Friday, June 15, in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 74 Algonquin Ave., at Route 151, Mashpee. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 16, at Christ the King Church, Mashpee Commons. The interment will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 18, at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, 247 Willow St., Yarmouthport, MA 02675, or Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601.