Frederick Gauch

Frederick "Fred" Gauch, III, 85, of Hilton Head, SDC, died Saturday, December 20, 2025, in Memorial Health University Hospital in Savannah, GA.

Graveside funeral services will be held on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 11:00am at Beaufort National Cemetery with military honors.

Fred was born on November 20, 1940, in Brooklyn, NY. He is the son of the late Frederick Gauch Jr. and Kathryn Fett Gauch.

Fred was always interested in music and the Arts. He was the Drum Major for the West Palm Beach High School Marching Band and played the Trombone and acted in school plays and sang in the Methodist Church choir. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserves after graduating from West Palm Beach High School. He was called to active duty in 1963 and served as a Navy Medical Corpsman until 1965 at the Beaufort Naval Hospital. He was released from active duty in 1966; it was during this time that the Original Melody Makers band was formed. Fred was the lead singer and played the Bass guitar. The Melody Makers played throughout South Carolina, East North Carolina, Virgina, New York State and Canada. He was a good shag dancer and also loved to surf on his surfboard, off Hunting Island. He acquired his first sailboat in the 1990's. His love of sailing came from going sailing with his Father and Brother in the long Island Sound. He bought his second Sailboat in 2015 and sailed up and down the East Coast of the U.S. and frequently would sail over to Beaufort for the annual water festival He lived on it full time in the Skull Creek Marina until his passing December 20th. 2025.

Surviving is one daughter, Tiffany Gauch; one son, Frederick "Freddie" Michael; one brother, Barry Gauch and one sister, Kathy Scott.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to The Sea Scouts of America.

Click this link to view additional details about Frederick's Services: https://my.gather.app/remember/frederick-gauch