Dr. Robert E. Fredricks

FREDRICKS, Dr., ROBERT E. Dr. Robert E. Fredricks was born April 21, 1925 and died peacefully in the arms of his family on December 6, 2005 of pancreatic cancer. His passions and commitments to medicine, public policy and social services for children spanned the last half of the 20th Century. Bob graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in the class of '47. His service in the Navy included two years as a line officer on a destroyer and two years at the highest levels of the National Security Agency in Washington, DC. After graduation from Marquette University Medical School, Bob spent six years in post graduate residencies and fellowships at Georgetown University, Tufts University and UCLA, where he served as a research fellow and clinical professor of medicine before practicing as an Internist/Hematologist for thirteen years. He served as Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica for twenty-one years, a position from which he retired in 1992. He was past Chairman of the Board of the Catholic Health Association of the US and served on its National Leadership Task Force on Health Care Reform. He was National Chairman of the NAMELESS CHILDREN OF ROMANIA FUND which raised several million dollars for developmentally disabled and abandoned orphans in that country, created a permanent social infrastructure of support and built a hospital wing in Bucharest to continue their treatment in his twelve visits to Romania - all efforts that robustly continue today. He also spearheaded a nationwide program for the immunization of preschoolers through CHA and National Rotary Clubs. Bob was Past Chairman of the Board of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System of the US and was also a Past Chairman of the Board of Pacific Resident Theatre, Arts, Inc., Rotary Club of Santa Monica, and Meals on Wheels of Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades. Bob was a Board Member and Trustee of the California Hospital Association, The Hospital Council of Southern California, Los Angeles County Medical Association, American Academy of Medical Directors, Center for Healthy Aging, Children's Bureau of Southern California and the CBSC Foundation, National Council for Community and Justice SM., American Red Cross SM., Santa Monica Rotary Club and Foundation, St. John's Health Center Foundation, St. John's Health Center Physician's Alumni Association, The Welk Group Inc. and The Lawrence Welk Family Foundation. Bob brought an innate sensitivity, and diplomacy to working with people that won him the respect and friendship of widely diverse publics. His commitment to personal and institutional integrity was legendary. Bob exemplified the highest ideals of his profession and his nobility of spirit earned the trust of princes as well as paupers. His curiosity and zest for life drove him to embrace the arts as an avid sculptor, music lover and theater patron and to travel the world. His greatest fulfillment came as an adored and revered husband, father and grandfather. His broad and sustaining love will continue to echo through future generations whose lives his work and his presence have blessed. Bob leaves his wife of 51 years, Shirley, his children Laura (Jeff) Segall, Dr. Robert (Becky) Fredricks, Dr. David Fredricks, Jonathan (Tracy) Fredricks, Lisa Parker, and his son by choice, Dan Martin. He leaves nine grandchildren, Kate and Robert Segall, Natalie Fredricks, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Oliver and Faith Fredricks, Gillian and Ethan Parker, and his sister, Agnes Fredricks. In tribute to his life, all of his children have established and endowed The Robert E. Fredricks Fund to carry forward his life's work. Donations may be made to this fund in Bob's memory at PO Box 130745, Carlsbad, CA 92013. The Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be on Monday, December 12 at 1 p.m. at Saint Monica's Church, 725 California Avenue, Santa Monica , CA 90403. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com