Frederick A. De Shon Ph.D.

1935 - 2010

Dr. De Shon succumbed to a rapidly escalating set of health catastrophes on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at the age of 75. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family.
Frederick A. De Shon was born in 1935 on the south side of Boston as the only child to a musician and his wife. When he was 14 his mother died of bone cancer after a prolonged illness, devastating his father's finances and spirit. He dropped out of eight grade to work, to help support the family, working primarily as a dishwasher. His only escape from his difficult circumstances was his deep love of reading and music, which he retained throughout his life.
At age 17 he obtained his father's permission to join the U.S. Air Force and was assigned to AMMO. In the coming years, he was assigned to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Okinawa, Korea and Spain before being assigned to Tirrenia, Italy. By this time he had accepted his then 50-year old father as a dependent in order to provide for him and ensure that he would not suffer and die without health insurance like his mother had.
In Italy he met Gertrud Gleitze, an English teacher from Germany who was vacationing there, and was struck by her beauty and intelligence. Within three weeks he proposed and they were married in Germany in 1964. Their son, Freddy, was born in 1965 in Italy, where they lived for several years before he was reassigned to Utah. Their son, Markus, was born in Utah in 1968. Just weeks after Markus' birth Dr. De Shon was sent to Southeast Asia, leaving his wife and children to go to Germany to live with her parents and six siblings.
Upon his return from Asia, he was assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, where they purchased their present home in Fort Walton Beach. During this time, he was impressed with the guidance and care that they received from a marital therapist, and felt called to help others in this way.
From this point on, starting at age 37, this school dropout doggedly continued to pursue his education, obtaining a bachelor's degree from William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Miss., a master's degree from the University of Maryland, and finally a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology. During this period of education he also transitioned from AMMO to being a psychotherapist in the Air Force, and helped start the first DOD mental health clinic in Okinawa. After retirement in 1978 the family moved to Germany for two years, where Dr. De Shon performed psychotherapy in German at the reform school in Schloss Wollershausen, where he was remembered fondly for many years.
Two of the harshest winters in 100 years convinced the De Shon family to return to their house in Fort Walton Beach to settle, which they did in 1980.
Dr. De Shon started a private practice at 357 Beal Pkwy., which he named Rivendell after the safe haven described in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," a place of rest and recuperation. In that office he transformed lives in innumerable ways, always quietly, respectfully, and with good humor. He loved his clients, and they felt his genuine empathy. They were able to grow healthier through his gentle interaction with their minds and souls.
Dr. De Shon lived a full and active life surrounded by family and friends, living many adventures through his worldwide travels, his lifelong love of running (culminating in several marathons after the age of 57), and sailing and mountain climbing with his brother-in-law and friend, Rudi Wehn.
He concluded his life at a high point, but would have been sad not to be able to share in the joy and care of his family and friends. What his family will miss most is his undying positivity and lust for life that touched them, and so many others. One of his regrets would surely have been that he was unable to prepare his clients for his passing.
He will be deeply missed by his wife, Gerti; his sons, Freddy and Markus, and their wives Michelle and Mee Hyang; his granddaughter, Felicia; and a large, loving family in Germany. Eli Gleitze-Skelly, Joe Skelly, Erin Skelly and Martha Skelly have been essential parts of Dr. De Shon's life for 23 years - family, friends, travel companions, colleagues, and in these final days a tremendous comfort to his family. "Anyone can slay a dragon … but try waking up in the morning and loving the world all over again. That's what takes a real hero." -- Brian Andreas
We will celebrate Dr. De Shon's life on Saturday, May 1, at 4 p.m. at McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave. S.E., Fort Walton Beach.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Opportunity Place, 203 Cloverdale Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 (okaloosawaltonhomeless.org).
Memories and condolences can be left at www.McLaughlinMortuary.com .