Fred Pierson

Frederick W. Pierson (78) of Onondaga Hill died on October 10, 2024. Born November 5, 1945 in West Haven, Connecticut, he was the only child of Frederick W. Pierson and Irene (Fahey) Pierson. He grew up in a three-generation household that included his maternal grandparents Thomas Fahey (Pappy) and Agnes Moran Fahey (GiGi).

An avid swimmer, Fred was a lifeguard on Long Island Sound for several years. Like his father, Fred was a lifelong fan of the New York Giants. Fred adopted a second family at Siena College, bonding over beer and music, and those friends are still his close family sixty years later.

Fred served in the Army in Viet Nam. After seeing firsthand the brutality the Viet Cong inflicted on women and children he understood why he was called to serve in such an unpopular war. Fred started his career in Pensions and Financial Planning in 1969 at Aetna Life and Casualty in Hartford, Ct. He retired from the same field in Syracuse in 2008. In 1970 at Aetna he met Kathleen Hanus. They quickly became best friends and married in 1975. Fred died six months shy of their 50th Anniversary.

Fred is survived by two sons, Thomas Pierson (Barbara) of Syracuse, and William Pierson (and long time partner Katie Smolnycki) of Bellevue, Washington. But the apple of his eye was his granddaughter Chloe of Syracuse. It was Grandpa Fred who first suggested returning home early from Florida to care for infant Chloe when her mother returned to work. He loved Chloe’s many sleepovers which included countess hours together cooking in the kitchen.

Fred loved fishing and camping with his family. He attended his sons’ football, soccer and basketball games, and passed on his own love of model trains to his son Tom. He was a fan of music of all kinds. In retirement Fred and Kathy bought a second home in Florida and became snowbirds. They especially enjoyed going on cruises together.

Fred was a voracious reader and learner and he is remembered as a good listener who always had something to share on any subject.

Fred is also survived by his Siena family and his wife Kathy’s family, which provided plenty of in-laws and nieces and nephews.

A memorial serivce will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Burns-Garfield Funeral Home, 3175 E. Genesee St Syracuse. Visitation will be held from 1-3 pm followed by a service at the funeral home. Donations in Fred’s memory may be made to Tunnel2Towers.