Fredrick James Samperi, 78 of Matthews, NC, passed away March 10, 2017. Fred, a graphic designer/photographer, was born June 27, 1938, in Paterson, NJ and was a graduate of the NYC High School of Industrial Art and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. His career began in advertising art with NY-based advertising agencies and he created hundreds of book jackets along with corporate advertising art in his home studio. Fred was a member of The Society of Illustrators.

In 1961, Fred was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Knox, KY where he served as an illustrator in the instructional services department painting portraits of military officials and was honorable discharged in 1963. He married Elaine Arcon in 1968, moved to the suburbs of Westchester County, NY, and was blessed with a daughter.

After years in freelance, Fred began working for magazine publishers that included Time Inc., Gruner & Jahr, and retired from The Conde Nast Publications. He worked on the following magazines Vogue, GQ, Gourmet, Brides, Life and Parents.

He loved the outdoors and was a member of the renowned Camp Fire Club of America. Fred had a passion for fly fishing and was deft at tying flies and building custom rods. The Samperi's retired to Waynesville, NC in 2001 and ten years later, they moved to the Charlotte area. Fred is remembered as a quiet, artistic, and modest man who had a quirky sense of humor. He lived with the symptoms of Parkinson's disease for numerous years without complaint.

Fred is survived by his beloved wife Elaine; daughter Monique Samperi-Brooks and her husband Steven Brooks; father-in-law Howard Arcon; grandsons Austin Arcon Brooks and Griffin Fredrick Brooks; brother Richard Samperi and lifelong childhood friend Raffaele Russo. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Joseph and Mary Cancellieri Samperi, and his brother, Charles Joseph Samperi, Jr.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 and 4:00 pm and from 7:00 and 8:30 pm on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at Heritage Funeral Home, 3700 Forest Lawn Drive, Matthews, NC. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC. Memorial donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Online condolences may be left at www.heritagecares.com.