Fred W. Roeber

Fred, beloved son (of Nora and Fred), brother (of Elaine), husband (of Barbara), brother-in-law (of Walter, John and Dolores, Bob and Anne, Jim and Colleen), father (of Fred, Jim, Lisa, Claudia, and Kim), Uncle, Grandpa (Bumpa/Api), and friend of many; was born on August 4th, 1929 and died peacefully on November 16th, 2024 with his adoring family at his bedside. His family was his pride and joy and, thanks to his lifelong loving ways, they always knew it.
He was a child of the Great Depression; and he and Barbara taught their children how to explore, camp, hike, snorkel, ski, and navigate the world. He taught everyone lucky enough to know him (always quietly, by example) the importance of little and big adventures, from chasing down hot air balloons, to exploring abandoned mines, to surfing while camped out on the beach beside Cape Kennedy, for the 1969 moon shot.
Fred worked his way through college as a house carpenter (working with beloved brother-in-law Walter), was a medal-winning hurdler for his high school and college track teams, and was a lifelong athlete (skier, bicyclist, one lesson away from being a hang glider) always ready for a new adventure.
Fred was a natural environmentalist who never wasted gas, electricity, or Cool Whip containers; and who, later in life, helped get the Concord rail trail built for future generations to enjoy. Fred was a lifelong inventor who held several patents for his work at Raytheon. In his free time, down in the basement, he developed and tested a new type of boat; once designed a new type of wheel; and prototyped a new way of doing orthodontics which he eventually worked on with the Dean of the Tufts School of Orthodontics. Maybe more importantly, Fred was a lifetime bedtime storyteller who left little notepads and scraps of paper all over the house with his new ideas, new storylines, new poetry.
Religion was a cornerstone of his life, and he and Barbara were involved in the St. Bernard's Parish for many years, including enjoying trips abroad with their church friends. Fred was an unfailingly kind, gentle, and deeply principled man who passed on the importance of living one's ideals – kindly, generously, creatively, always with curiosity – to his children and grandchildren.
Fred was predeceased by his beloved wife, Barbara, and sister, Elaine. He is survived by his children: Fred (and Cindy), Jim (and Mary), Lisa (and John), Claudia (and John), and Kim; beloved grandchildren Megan, Tim, Molly, Lennie, Jojo, and Charlie; brother-in-law Jim (and Colleen), sisters-in-law Anne and Dolores; and his many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his companion, Sheila, who gave his last years happiness and purpose.
Fred's family will gather for a private Funeral Mass on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 in St. Bernard's Church at Holy Family Parish in Concord, followed by burial at St. Bernard's Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.