FREDERICK EDMUND "FRED" MEYER

MEYER, FREDERICK EDMUND "FRED" November 6, 1924 to April 16, 2010 Fred Meyer passed away in the early morning hours on Friday, April 16, 2010 at Sharp Memorial Hospital due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Tuesday, April 13, 2010. His wife of 58 years, Anne Marie (Burke) Meyer, was at his side. Fred was born in Philadelphia to Elizabeth and Edmund Meyer on November 6, 1924. He left Philadelphia at age 16 to attend the University of Michigan. His studies were interrupted by World War II when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was trained as a gunner, radio operator, navigator and a bombardier. Fred returned to the University of Michigan after World War II to continue his studies. However, Fred's dream and was always to be a pilot and fly airplanes so he re-enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1947 to earn his pilot's wings. At the outbreak of the Korean War, he was stationed on Kwajalein Atoll. With his top-secret clearance he flew reconnaissance flights for the testing of atomic weapons in the Pacific. He continued as a transport pilot flying C-47s (DC-3s) evacuating injured troops from Tokyo to Honolulu. While in Honolulu he met and fell in love with Anne Marie, a pediatric Registered Nurse. They were married in a simple ceremony at his parent's home in Philadelphia on December 17, 1951. Fred returned to the University of Michigan and completed a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and graduated in 1955. He worked for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle before taking an engineering position with the Port District of San Diego and ultimately transferring to the City of San Diego. He became a Registered Mechanical Engineer in 1970. In addition to working for the City, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 1961, retired with the rank of Lt. Commander and completed his 20 years of military service to his country. Everywhere you look in San Diego you will see a part of Fred. He was responsible for administering many major construction projects in San Diego including projects at the Alvarado Reservoir Plant, the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park and various projects in almost all of San Diego's parks, especially the Mission Trails Regional Park. He retired from the City of San Diego as a Project Officer I in 1986. Fred enjoyed playing tennis. He was a charter member of the Mission Valley Tennis Club (MVTC) and won a club doubles championship. Later, he joined the Hilton Tennis Club and also the San Diego Tennis and Racquet Club. In the summer, he sailed his catamaran on Mission Bay, in winter he went skiing at Big Bear. He also enjoyed playing classical guitar. These activities live on in his children and grandchildren. Upon retiring, Fred and Anne traveled several times across the country in their little RV. He started flying again, a passion he shared with his son Jay and daughter-in-law Gwendolyn. For his 70th birthday his family planned a surprise flight for him by chartering a DC-3 (C-47), which he piloted from the left seat with his family aboard. After taking off from Palomar Airport and flying up to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, he made a perfect wheel landing upon his return to Palomar. The last time he had flown a DC-3 (C-47) had been forty-five (45) years earlier. He said it felt like being 24 years old again. He continued to fly until 2001 with his co-pilot and good friend Ret. Col. Marin Muskat. Fred was always putting things together or repairing broken toys and he became "Grandpa Fix-it" to his two grandchildren, Christopher and Genevieve. They were the greatest joys of his life. He loved to watch Christopher play tennis and Genevieve ride horses. Fred is survived by his wife, Anne, his daughter Kathryn, a Public Elementary School Teacher, his son Jay, a Civil Engineer and a professional pilot, and his wife Gwendolyn and their children Christopher and Genevieve and his son Tom, a Board Certified Emergency Physician and Department Head at Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael, and wife Lisa. He also leaves behind his beloved little white dog, Ricky. Interment was at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in a private service. A celebration of his life will be held later this year. If you knew Fred and would like to attend, please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com. Invitations will be forthcoming when a date is set.