Daniel A. Fredrickson

AGE: 68 • Runnemede

Daniel Fredrickson, 68, devoted husband, father and artist died April 3, 2015 at home, surrounded by his family, after a brave battle with brain cancer. Daniel was born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin on October 1, 1946, attended Appleton public schools, and graduated from Lawrence University with a B.A. in philosophy in 1968. After college, Dan's artistic talents led to work for museums where he specialized in large-scale murals, dioramas, and exhibits for national and international shows. Prominent works include a life-size replica of Lescaux Caves on display in Taipei, China, the "Dino Dig" at the Philadelphia Museum of Natural History, and a forty-foot Right Whale mural at the Charleston (SC) Museum. In 1982, he founded Visual Syntax and continued independent work on installations for nonprofits and businesses, including holiday window displays for Lord and Taylor in New York City. From childhood on, Dan's interests were wide-ranging. His love of fossil collecting, natural history, literature, and swimming endured throughout his life. His artistic talents extended into creative writing and music. Musical jam sessions were the highlight of gatherings with family and friends. Dan wrote lyrics and performed vocally on the Paisley Plaid CDs, and also wrote novelettes and screen plays. When Dan became ill, he was in the process of completing illustrations for "King Mansa", a children's book written by Dan's late daughter, Faye. Dan will be remembered by family and friends as a unique and gifted individual. He was unfailingly generous with his talents, donating his art work to support heart disease and cancer awareness and delighting his relatives with his annual calendars, featuring Phatso and Mini - characters who bore some resemblance to Dan and his wife Diane. He leaves behind his loving wife, Diane (Dafoe) Fredrickson, son, Justin Fredrickson, and grandchildren, Nicolas, Claudia, and Justin Andreas (Sacramento, CA): daughter Annie Fredrickson (Audubon, NJ): father Donald Fredrickson and brother, Steven (both of Moorestown, NJ); and brother James Fredrickson (Princeton, NJ). Daniel's daughter, Faye Fredrickson Dickson preceded him in death, as did his mother, Doris Fredrickson. Extended family members of the Dafoe family, in various locations, also remain behind as loving relatives in Dan's life.

A memorial service for Daniel is planned for family and friends during his birth month of October, 2015. Any donations may be made to Capital Health Institute of Neurosciences, 750 Brunswick Avenue Trenton, NJ 08638 for treatment of malignant brain tumors. Family and friends may share memories at www.GardnerFuneralHome.com.

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

Published by Courier Post on Apr. 5, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Daniel Fredrickson

12 Entries

Rob Keay

March 29, 2025

Dan was a great friend of mine and a highly valued musical partner for many years. I deeply miss him.

Robin Cember

October 27, 2024

I knew Daniel a long time ago. I have his grandfather's gold pocket watch. I would like to give it to his family.

Robin Cember

August 3, 2024

I remember Dan as a sweet and kind young man. I have his grandfather's gold pocket watch. I would love to give it to you.

Rob Keay

April 12, 2020

Dan was a friend of a lifetime. Smart, educated, sensitive, compassionate, creative, cooperative, funny and wise dont begin to describe Dan. I was a friend and musical partner (The Paisley Plaid, I was Paisley, and Dan was Plaid) to Dan for a large part of my own life. Thanks Dan, rest easy.
Rob Keay

Rob Keay

April 2, 2019

Dan and I were kindred spirits. We knew it the first day that we met, decades ago. His kindness and gentleness are obvious. As our interactions grew, I realized that Dan had a vast knowledge and appreciation for the widest range of interests of anyone that I had known. Our conversations would roam from art, music, world history, philosophy, science mythology, and basically anywhere. After being friends for years, we decided to form a musical group, not performing, but solely as a recording act. We formed The Paisley Plaid, and made nine full length albums, pushing the limits of style and originality. Dan created the words and spoke or sang them, and I created the music and artwork. United we brought the best of ourselves to the task. I will never forget Dan, or his lovely family. Rest In Peace Dan.
With great love and a firm handshake,
Rob Keay

alan sizmur

April 28, 2015

I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Dan, I liked him very much.
He worked and built many great projects for me including The "Dig" a replica of an archeological ground where children could search for prehistorical dinosaur bones. He did murals and sculptures with finesse and always he would take great pride in his work. I found him to be a kind and happy individual with whom I bonded. I enjoyed his company and will miss him!

Guy Mead

April 17, 2015

I liked Dan

Maryann Classick-Wallace

April 9, 2015

Dear Diane, You and your family are in our prayers. We will not forget Dan and the mark he has left on our world....

Kevin Petrik

April 7, 2015

Growing up I often found Dan working on creative projects around the Fredrickson home. At first I thought that he was a quiet person, but I quickly realized that he was the opposite. He was passionate and thought provoking when you brought up topics that engaged him. I remember as a young teenager when a trip to Justin's house often involved asking his dad Dan about his latest work project or creative endeavor. Seeing his art or sharing conversations with Dan regularly made me find beauty in life and to more consciously live life.

Dan had strength and humility. Our conversations about his early days on swim teams or weight lifting inspired me as a young athlete. Even more memorable was Dan's laugh and his ability to laugh at life and at oneself. His laugh was infectious and would often spread throughout the Fredrickson family at dinner or especially on long car rides back from a day in the Pine Barrens at Lake Oswego. Dan will be missed.

Rob Keay

April 5, 2015

I met Dan over thirty years ago when we were living across the street from each other in boarding rooms owned by the same woman. Over time, we stayed in touch with each other, and became friends. What makes two people become friends when they could just as easily never see each other again. It's something of a mystery. I knew right away that Dan was smart and good company. As we became better acquainted, I realized that he was a complex person with rich knowledge about science, philosophy, art, music, history and so much more. Conversations with Dan would have many layers like an onion. His cross references were sometimes so oblique that I missed half of what he was saying. In 2003 our mutual interest in music inspired us to start a recording group that we called The Paisley Plaid. Over the next twelve years we recorded nine full length albums, in order, entitled "Follow The Lights", "The Sands Of Mars", DOUBLEUNDEADED", " Slither Space", "Garden At The Well Of Indiffference", "On The Shore Of Wishes", "Tis As Tis", "When The Modem Went Down", and finally in 2015, "Mondo Lingo". The titles alone give a glimpse into the rich mind of Dan. I am "Paisley" and Dan is "Plaid". Usually, especially at first, Dan would record his written words and email them to me. I would then create music to wrap around his voice. No one else records music that way, but somehow it worked. Our last recording can be heard and
downloaded for free at www.reverbnation.com/thepaisleyplaid. Listen and remember the genius and loving mind, heart and soul of Dan "Folkus" Fredrickson.
Rob Keay

Ken MacKenzie

April 5, 2015

I met Dan over 30 years ago. He was a different kind of 'thinker'...and he was a 'thinker'. He was a positive adult role model for me at a time when I needed more of those. Perhaps those talks that we shared in his garage studio inspired me to 'think'. I still have a piece of art that he made for me. If we all live on through those we touch and the beauty we create, Dan will surely live on.

John Steinmacher

April 5, 2015

My condolences. Dan leaves many gifts of art and love, and will not be forgotten.

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