Frederick Best Obituary

Frederick Best
February 15, 1936 - April 16, 2021
Durham, North Carolina - Frederick William Best of Durham, North Carolina passed away on April 16th, 2021. Fred was born on February 15th, 1936 to Alfred and Nancy Best in Manhattan. He grew up in Watchung, NJ and graduated from North Plainfield High School. He received a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY where he was president of his fraternity, Alpha Chi Rho, ran on the Track and Field team and was a member of ROTC. He later served as a Lieutenant in the Army stationed in Taiwan.
Fred and Merle "Sunny" raised their family in Westfield, NJ. Fred had a long career in engineering, manufacturing and health management with Johns Manville, Richard Best Pencil Company, Johnson & Johnson and EDS. They retired to Newport, RI and later, Durham, NC.
A lifelong runner, Fred was a member of the RPI Athletic Hall of Fame and competed in the 1964 Track and Field Olympic Trials. He later became a marathoner and completed 15 Boston Marathons finishing as high as 15th. After retiring, he volunteered as a certified USA Track and Field official in North Carolina. Fred was active in both his local community and church throughout his life.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Merle "Sunny" Best (Lehmkuhl), daughters Cynthia Best of South Yarmouth, MA and Beverly Wolf and her husband Gregory of West Hartford, CT and dearly loved grandchildren, Ryan and Drew Burney, Parker and Samantha Wolf.
Fred generously donated his body to Duke University Medical College.
A gathering to celebrate Fred's life will be held at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to:
Mount Bethel Presbyterian Church, 3541 Rose of Sharon Road, Durham, NC 27712
Wilson Memorial Union Church, 7 Valley Road, Watchung, NJ 07069

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News & Observer on Apr. 25, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Frederick Best

9 Entries

Tom Kinsman

April 19, 2024

Coming back to read these comments makes me feel a little sad yet I smile at the same time because Fred was such a great guy. I always loved seeing him at a Rutgers XC practice or local NJ races. I can still see that huge smile spreading across his face when he saw someone he knew.

joseph r witkowski

April 26, 2022

Earth lie lightly. Fred was the salt of the earth. Great friend and training partner. We went at it in training and I was a better runner for it.

Alan Cummings

October 20, 2021

I only yesterday learned of Fred's passing, and was deeply saddened when I heard it. At the same time, though, it jarred loose a very nice memory.

The first time I met Fred Best was in the '70s, at a 10K road race in which we were both competing. The only things I'd heard about him were "nice guy" and "good Master's runner." I didn't know how good, however, until, with maybe a mile to go, he pulled away from me, and there was nothing I could do about it.

After the race, I was leaning against a tree, gasping and feeling quite dejected. I had been beaten by an old man! (My recollection is that I was about 23, which would have made Fred about 41.) I was surprised when I saw him walking toward me.

"Nice race," he said.

"Not really," I scowled.

He then entered into a conversation with me that I have never forgotten.

"I hear you like high mileage," he smiled.

"Yeah. I guess."

"What do you average?"

"120-140 (miles) a week," I said proudly. "You?"

"About 70."

Now I was really unhappy! I guy twice my age who ran half my mileage had just dusted me!

"All quality?" he asked.

"What?"

"Are all your miles quality miles?"

"No, not really."

"Of course not; how could they be?" He paused. "Lotta junk?"

"Yeah, some. Fair amount, I guess."

"Ever get injured?" He was kind of boring in now, but in the nicest possible way.

"Sometimes. Fairly often. OK, all the time, actually." I was now looking at the ground. I looked up. "You?"

"Almost never."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Then he asked the question that pretty much consolidated the lesson being absorbed by the sometimes stupid, often hard-headed kid. (Me.)

"Which of the two of us do you suppose runs more miles in a YEAR?"

I did the math in my head. "Probably you," I said.

He put his arm around me and said, "See where I'm going with this?"

By then I was, to my surprise, kind of laughing. And I did.

That was the only conversation of any real length I ever had with Fred (sorry to say), though I did make it a point to say hello whenever I saw him at various races and high school track and XC meets. (I was coaching at Metuchen, and his daughter Cindy was running for Westfield.)

Over time, I learned what a great runner he really was--but, more importantly, that he was a real first-class guy.

And I've never once heard anyone say anything to the contrary.

ABC, 10/20/21

Suzanne Wallbank Rowland

June 28, 2021

Ellis and I have treasured our friendship with Sunny and Fred for many years. I first met Fred when I entered Kindergarten and he was in first grade in Watchung NJ and then met Sunny in second grade. We all went on to the same high school, then we were off to college and marriage and raising a family. We were happy to reconnect in Westfield where we both raised our families. Fred was always a special, caring person, always thinking of others and always lending a helping hand to his church, family, runners, neighbors and more. He will truly be missed by all who knew him. Sending caring sympathy and love to Sunny and family.
~Suzee Rowland

Rev Joe Tripp

June 21, 2021

Fred and Sunny were delightful additions to our church family when they lived in Newport. Very kind and loving as well as fun! We grieved their moving away from our area. Blessings and love to you, Sunny, as you mourn Fred’s death. He was a solid human being. ‘

joseph r witkowski

May 3, 2021

Fred and i went hammer and tongs many a Saturday morning for years. 10 miles at 5.30-5,40. And yes that was the pace- Fred was a 70 miles a week guy but all quality. Spent a lot of time socially with Fred and Happy. A man without pretension, a regular mensch. Life is a strange trip, one day u are doing 6 x 1 mile in Tamequas park in 4.55 with 3m rest and then u can't do a mile in 12m. Earth lie lightly over a dear friend.

Phil Peterson

April 30, 2021

I met Fred at some of the summer road races in New Jersey back in the mid to late 1960s. He was always competitive and a gracious person after the race, regardless of who won or lost. It was a pleasure to see him at the races. My fondest memory was the long post race conversation we had after the NJ State AAU Cross Country championships in 1967 at Rider. You are loved and missed, Fred.

Tom Kinsman

April 23, 2021

I met Fred at Rutgers. I got to work with Merle in my career a couple of times. What a lovely family and couple. Fred will be missed. My condolences to Merle and all who loved him.

Dean Shonts

April 21, 2021

Fred was such an influence on my life and we had SO many great runs together. RiP my friend

Showing 1 - 9 of 9 results