Frederick L. "Fred" Gonzales

After two years of battling pancreatic cancer, Frederick Lynn Gonzales died peacefully, with friends and family members at his side, on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. He was born on August 10, 1947 in Concord, California, the oldest and best-looking of the two sons born to Hooley Bell and Mary Marie Gonzales. Fred and Patricia, his loving wife of 31 years, have been longtime residents of Olympia, Washington, where Fred maintained a successful dental practice limited to the specialty of endodontics. In addition to his work, Fred was an avid golfer and baseball/softball fan and player. Fred attended Seattle University on a baseball scholarship. His love of baseball continued as he coached, played, and sponsored the Bare Roots Softball Club when they won a Washington State USSSA softball title. Fred was also an accomplished musician and played several instruments, starting with the steel guitar at six years of age. He was well-known for assembling very talented musicians to entertain during summertime parties at their waterfront home on Johnson Point. Fred and Pat loved the water and enjoyed sailing in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. Fred graduated from Sammamish High School in Bellevue, Washington in 1965. He received his undergraduate degree from Seattle University in 1969. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1973. Fred went on to graduate from the Residency Program at the University of Vermont, after which he was selected to teach at the School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. From there, Fred entered specialty training at the University of Detroit School of Dentistry, where he received a Graduate Certificate in the practice of Endodontics. In 1977, Fred and Pat moved to Olympia and opened the Olympia Endodontic Group. Recently, while continuing to run his Olympia practice, Fred had been invited to instruct at his alma mater, the University of Washington, in the School of Dentistry's Graduate Department of Endodontics. As accomplished as Fred was in his professional career, Fred's greatest pride in life were his wife and children. He is survived by his wife, Pat, the love of his life; son, Andres, age 23, of Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter, Gabrielle, age 21, a junior at Washington State University; son, Payton, age 15, living at home in Olympia, Washington; brother, Donald (Sue), of Mercer Island, Washington; and countless friends. One of Fred's unique abilities was to make and maintain friends over years and miles. He had a broad spectrum of friends, who all experienced his generosity. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2007, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1515 Harrison Avenue N.W., Olympia, Washington. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to support pancreatic cancer research in care of the Virginia Mason Foundation, P.O. Box 1930, Seattle, Washington, 98111; or to the "First Tee Of Olympia", 8000 72nd Lane S.E., Olympia, Washington, 98513. Friends may leave online condolences for the family at: www.funeralalternatives.org Arrangements with Funeral Alternatives of Washington, (360) 753-1065.