William Albert Frederiksen

William Albert Frederiksen, [77] of Woodland Hills, California, passed away on June 14, 2024. Bill lived his life with a “can do” spirit. He was always curious and he embraced personal growth and change throughout his life.

He liked quiet, but was always up for a thoughtful conversation. He was an excellent listener, and anyone who talked with him felt his intelligence and drive for understanding. Bill had a sly sense of humor, but was always kind. He was generous with his time and skills whenever someone needed help. He built or assembled countless things for friends and family and cooked even more meals for them. He always made sure everyone had enough to eat.

Bill found the beauty in everything from earth to the cosmos. He loved to watch the stars and the trees, and listen to the ocean and birdsong. He loved to look out the window on plane trips and survey the geography below. He loved light, paint, and color and the chemistry and physics behind it. He was a writer and a dreamer, a planner, and an organizer. He loved to make and create, a trait which he shared with his son Trevor.

He shared 16 wonderful years with his devoted wife Dawn, to whom he was devoted in turn.

Bill was an engineer and a scientist. He had a wide range of interests, including geology, nature, history, and politics. He enjoyed theatre, and had a special fondness for Shakespeare in the park. He loved museums and art; his favorite artist was Vincent van Gogh. He enjoyed many kinds of music, including Motown, folk and country, and had an affinity for Jimmy Buffet. He was always curious and looking to learn. He read extensively, exploring philosophy, history, biography, the natural sciences, and science fiction. He found special pleasure in reading cookbooks. He often thought about transport, both in the sense of transportation and moving through space, and in the sense of moving through time and experience. He loved planes and trains; their engineering and their historical and industrial impact. He designed and built intricate and accurate model trains which showcased his creativity and his attention to detail. He travelled extensively, both during his career and in his personal life. He enjoyed learning languages and understanding a variety of cultures. He was also known as a skillful and engaging public speaker.

Raised in Michigan, Bill enlisted in the Army after high school, spent his 19th birthday in Vietnam, and was subsequently stationed in Germany. After the Army, Bill was educated at Wayne State University in Detroit, where he majored in chemistry, which led to jobs in automotive paint and injection molding. This was the beginning of a 50-year career in the automotive and aerospace industries.

The first part of his career was at General Motors, and he left GM as Vehicle Chief Engineer of GM’s first front-drive minivan. After GM, he worked for Magna International, a major automotive supplier, where he held positions as VP of Sales and Marketing, Operations, Business Development, and Engineering. He was responsible for sales and business in the Asia-Pacific region for Magna’s Decoma division. When he moved to California in 2007, he became Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Enova Systems Inc., a digital power management systems provider, where he was responsible for guiding Enova's Marketing, Operations, and Engineering, focusing on the development of hybrid and electric vehicles.

In the last chapter of his engineering career, Bill applied his skills to the aerospace industry, joining Precision Castparts Aerostructures Corp. and its division Aerospace Dynamics, Inc. as a Programs Recovery Manager. He travelled throughout the US and Europe for PCC and ADI, providing insight and oversight in the manufacture of large, complex castings, aerostructures, and highly engineered, critical fasteners for aerospace applications.

Although Bill had retired, he continued to work part time as a writer, editor, and technical consultant. He published essays on topics ranging from human interest to industry initiatives such as plastics and recycling. Bill worked as an editor handling news content selection and analysis for online newsfeeds in the chemical, energy, manufacturing, and medical industries. He did seasonal work at Loyola Law School,and found working with students especially rewarding. Bill was an excellent collaborator and shared his writing skills as a ghost writer for books and articles on topics ranging from baseball, health, food, and culture.

In his true retirement, Bill spent his time reading, writing, gardening, and cooking. He nurtured a beautiful life at his home in Southern California, and he cherished his time with his wife, family, friends, and his beloved cats. Bill was always enthusiastic about a great meal, an IPA, or a glass of red wine.

Bill is survived by his wife Dawn Frederiksen, his sons Trevor Frederiksen, Erik Frederiksen, and William Frederiksen Jr., his brother Thomas Frederiksen, his sister Candace (Steve) Puchovan, his sister-in-law Allison VanDercreek, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.