Frederick Berry

1936 - 2024

Frederick (Rick) Berry

May 1, 1936 - September 18, 2024

ST. HELENA -

Frederick (Rick) Berry died at home on September 18, 2024, after an extended illness. He was 88 years old.

Rick was born in Oakland and spent his early childhood in Concord, California. His family moved to Middletown, where he received his high school education. He was student body president and All-County in multiple sports. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, making lifelong friends at his ATO fraternity and spent his collegiate summers working as a smoke jumper in Missoula, Montana. After completing university, he enrolled in the U.S. Navy's Officer Training School, graduating third in his class. While in the Navy, he was stationed in Iceland and served as navigator flying over the Atlantic Ocean. After his naval service, he moved to San Francisco where a blind date introduced him to his beloved wife and best friend, Patricia. It was a whirlwind romance - meeting in February, engaged in August and married in October. They celebrated 57 years of marriage last year.

Soon after marriage, Rick moved to Napa to return to the academic world. He taught history to at-risk teenagers at Fairfield's Sem Yeto Continuation High School for almost 30 years. Upon retiring, he moved to St. Helena and spent two years serving on the Grand Jury and 11 years volunteering with the St. Helena Community Food Pantry. He captained his St. Helena Farmers' Market bocce team, the Luccians, and was a 12-year member of the Franklin Group.

Rick was an eternal optimist, loyal friend, doting husband and loving father. He coached his children's youth basketball teams and was a lifelong fan of East Bay sports teams. He never met a dog he didn't want to pet, a historical biography he didn't want to read, a fireplace he didn't want to stoke. Every meal a loved-one cooked for him was the best dish he had ever eaten. Traveling the world with his precious wife was his greatest joy. He will be remembered as a gentle man who kept kindness forefront in all his thoughts and actions. We are all better to have known him.

Rick is survived by his wife Patricia, son David, daughter Chris; sister Joan (Dick Reimers); sister-in-law Barbara Schleuning (Jon) and their three children, Jon (Hilary), David (Lissy) and Sarah (Michael).

A memorial celebrating Rick's life will be held on Sunday October 27 at 2 p.m. at St. Helena Presbyterian Church, 1428 Spring St., St. Helena. There will be a reception at the family home following the memorial.

The family is deeply thankful to the kindhearted caregivers and hospice team who were integral in our lives this year. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations in Rick's memory to St. Helena Community Food Pantry, Habitat for Humanity and World Wildlife Fund.