Alfred Thomas Villeneuve

1930 - 2016

March 14, 1930 - July 15, 2016 A gentle and loving family man, Alfred "Fritz" Villeneuve passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of July 15th at home surrounded by loved ones. Born in Syracuse, NY to Frank and Elizabeth, he grew up with three sisters - Mary, Doris and Margot. Fritz attended Manhattan College and Syracuse University, where he earned a Ph.D in Electrical Engineering and where he met the love of his life and steady partner for over sixty years- Mary Anne Smith. They married in 1956 and together have raised five children, traveled the world, contributed to the community in innumerable ways and have cherished their life together. An Electrical Engineer with Hughes Aircraft Company for 30 years, Fritz was an intellectually curious man with an extraordinary ability to solve complex antenna design problems. He was a scout leader, family camp trumpeter and an active parishioner at Visitation Church. Fritz loved his family and delighted in their activities and adventures, sometimes joining in. His twelve grandchildren adore him and are grateful for the memories of a life well lived that he leaves for them and their parents to emulate. His five children and their spouses appreciate the lessons he imparted about integrity, hard work and most of all being a loving partner. Fritz loved a good pun; sometimes just for the halibut. He could nap almost anywhere. He nurtured a love-hate relationship with golf, never giving himself enough credit for his game. A trumpet player until hearing loss became too great an impediment, Fritz passed on a love of music to the next generations. Spending time with his children and grandchildren at Lake Tahoe each summer was especially sweet; ending the day on the deck with an ice cold beer and a big smile is how he will be remembered. Fritz is survived by his wife of sixty years Mary Anne; children Tom (Victoria), Anne (Stuart), John (Deborah), Joe (Jennifer), and Ed (Mitzi); grandchildren Nicole, Greg, Jesse, Daniel, Cassidy, Rachael, Michael, AJ, Sam, Dylan, Zachary and Jenna; his sister Sister Doris Villeneuve, CSJ; and Junod, Burke and Alberg nieces and nephews and their families. A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, July 20th at 11 a.m. at Visitation Church, 6561 W. 88th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Donations may be made in Fritz's memory to Carondelet Center, 11999 Chalon Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90049 or to Sarah's Guesthouse http://sarahsguesthouse.org/