Frederick S. Smith ’59 died on December 6, 2018, in North Andover, Massachusetts.

(The following appeared online at contefuneralhomes.com in December 2018):

Frederick “Erek” or “Fred” Smith, 80, of North Andover, Mass., died December 6, 2018, at Edgewood Retirement Community in North Andover. He was born in Tallahassee, Florida, January 29, 1938.

He was the beloved son of the late E. Florine Smith and Ben Lee Smith.  He was also nephew of the late Opal Luttrell of Norwell, Mass.., and Ruby Koontz of Allentown, Penn.

Frederick was a graduate of Bowdoin College in 1959 with a BA in German. He obtained a master of arts degree at Kansas State University in 1965.  Frederick taught German at Bowdoin College in the early 1960s as well as worked for the Center for Applied Linguistics in Washington, DC. Continuing his passion for the German language, Frederick worked for Rand McNally, Houghton Mifflin, and finally Heinle and Heinle from 1979 to 1999. As an editor and multi-media specialist at Heinle and Heinle, Frederick was well respected as a considerate and trusted mentor by staff.

Frederick was devoted to his belated mother, who lived with him and his Aunt Opal in Norwell until his mother’s death at age 99. Erek, as he was known by his friends and colleagues, enjoyed travel in central Europe, and, at one time, planned to retire to Budapest Hungary. Frederick was also an accomplished cook and gardener.

His friends at Edgewood in North Andover called him “Fred” and knew him as a kind and good-hearted resident who was quick with a smile. Fred found a true sense of community and family at Edgewood and was grateful for the many friendships formed there.

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