Fred J. Brockmann

Fred J. Brockmann was born in Ozone Park, Queens, NY, and graduated from Oceanside High School. He received his BA in English and an MS in Education from Wagner College, Staten Island, where he met Lee Schriever, whom he married on June 8, 1952. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953, he did his basic training and attended Leadership School in Fort Bliss, Texas, and then served in the 749th Anti-Aircraft Battery in Englewood, NJ, (protecting the George Washington Bridge from the North Korean Air Force!). In July, 1955, he was selected Outstanding Soldier of the Month. Upon his discharge, he taught English and Journalism in Pearl River, NY. While teaching, initiating and sponsoring the high school newspaper, and also coaching athletics, he did graduate work at both Columbia and NYU, receiving his Ed.D. in Administration and earning the prestigious NYU Founder's Day Award upon graduation in 1970. He became Superintendent of Schools in Guilford, CT, that same year, and in 1977 was recruited to Farmingdale, Long Island, as Superintendent there. For medical reasons, he took early retirement in 1985 and returned to Guilford, CT, where he became consultant to the Connecticut State Commissioner of Education for several years. In his retirement, he became a watercolor artist, producing many fine pieces. Having visited Florida as "snow birds" since 1989, he and Lee made Sarasota their official residence in 2007, and he taught a class in watercolor painting at their Lakeshore Village clubhouse for several years. Immediately upon becoming residents of Sarasota, they began working with Equality Florida, recruiting other allies to become supporters. In 2018 they were honored to receive EQFL's annual "Voice for Equality" award.
He became a member of the Peace & Justice Network at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Sarasota, upon joining the church, and served as chairman for about six years. He and Lee were also active in SURE (Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity), serving on the Restorative Justice committee as advocates for students in the Sarasota school system.
Always an educator, Fred was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher, mentor, and community leader. As a school administrator, his guiding mantra was "Put the children first." He was an avid reader and loved beauty in literature, music, art, and nature, especially the sea shore, as well as playing, coaching, and watching sports.
He leaves his wife of 70 years and their two daughters and families: Daughter Carolee and her husband Jay Gravina, their children Jack, his wife Diliana, and their son Phoenix, and Marlise and her husband Carl Rausa; and Daughter Suzanne and her husband Ed Gaffney, their children Melanie, her husband Michael Schultz, and Melanie's son Aidan Neuer; and Jason and his husband Matt Gorlick.
Fred's Celebration of Life will be on Thursday, November 17th, at 4:00pm, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1031 S. Euclid Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237.
The service will be hybrid (online and in person). Masks and seating separation are requested, and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no reception.
For the link to the service online go to YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFNA7FeLccKAm-1XedSgYg or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/uccsarasota/
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Fred's name to First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1031 S. Euclid Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237, or to Equality Florida, P.O Box 13184, St. Petersburg, FL 33733-9725.