Frederick Augustus Kober

1938 - 2018

Frederick Augustus Kober

Los Gatos, CA - Frederick Augustus Kober VI of Los Gatos, CA died peacefully at the age of 80, with his wife and son by his side, on Saturday March 17, 2018. Fred is survived by his wife, Sydene, of 38 years; his sister Suzanne Norling (Fred); his children: Christopher (Kelli), Derek (Lucie), Kurt Naegele, Kirsten Flaherty (Tom); and his grandchildren: Frederick VII, Kent, Gracie, Max, Makena, Maren, Alexa, Catherine, Lauren and Sean.

Fred was born on January 18, 1938, the son of Leslie Rest Kober and Margaret Batchelor Kober in Phoenix, AZ. He grew up in Phoenix and was the Valedictorian of North Phoenix High School, where he lettered in baseball and garnered All Met honors in basketball and was voted most likely to succeed by his peers. He went on to attend Stanford University, where he lettered in baseball, was a member of Theta Delta Chi and graduated with a degree in Political Science. Fred received his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Fred served in the United States Navy as an Officer stationed at the communications station in Guam, had tours throughout the Pacific theater and attained the rank of Lieutenant.

Fred was an avid golfer, although not a great one, as tirades at courses worldwide can attest. He loved tennis and watching in person his Stanford football team win three Rose Bowls. He loved the great outdoors and instilled that same feeling to the whole family as we hiked and traveled to national parks throughout the nation and to foreign lands on his infamously ambitious agendas.

Fred's main professional pursuit was residential real estate development. After his position as eastern regional head for Boise Cascade and Larwin Homes, Fred founded the Christopher Companies in 1974. He built numerous communities in the Northern Virginia area of suburban Washington D.C., Maryland, and the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area. The products of his labors have been home to thousands of residents over the years. Fred won numerous awards for his communities, his company and his personal service to the industry. Fred was President of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA). Fred was also very involved with the Urban Land Institute, a non-profit international organization dedicated to thoughtful development of real estate, sustainable use of land and the revitalization of urban areas around the world. Fred was Vice Chairman of the 40,000-member organization, was instrumental in their growth around the country and the world, and was honored as a Life Trustee, an award bestowed on only a handful of the world's real estate titans.

Fred's greatest contribution, however, was the impact he had on those around him. He mentored and guided his professional colleagues, many of whom went on to lead their own businesses, including the team that took the reins of the Christopher Companies. He was a father figure to his first wife, Sheila, who lost her own father as a teenager. He accepted the role as stepfather when he married Sydene and raised her children indistinguishably from his own. He was a kind, considerate, fun-loving grandfather who cherished the opportunities to gather grandkids and the entire family for life's celebrations and unforgettable vacation retreats. And he made the extra effort to attend countless baseball, lacrosse, football and soccer games, as well as performances of his children and grandchildren, relishing the achievements and competitive spirit and development of all of those around him in their athletic, artistic, academic, professional and personal endeavors. Most of all, he taught and practiced an enjoyment of life and loved ones. He was an emotional rock and foundation to all those around him, setting an example of love, consideration, intelligence, humor, and calmness under pressure with integrity. He had a sarcastic wit known by all those who met him. He was a larger than life patriarch of our family who will be sorely missed, but never forgotten - by all of us who have been given the incredible gifts and opportunities of his presence, intelligence, inspiration, guidance and love as we pursue our own dreams in life. We love you Fred, and we will live our lives in your honor.

The family will have a celebration commemorating his life with friends at a time and place to be determined. His wish was that each who knew him go out and live their life to the fullest, loving and nurturing their children, loved ones and colleagues as he did for all of us. In lieu of flowers, Fred desired that you consider a charity near to your heart.