Frederick John James

1937 – 2025

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Frederick James (affectionately known as “Deak”), on May 1, 2025 at the age of 88.

Fred is survived by his two daughters, Cathy and Linda (Jon); grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Leo and Ruth James; his brother, Lee James; his loving wife and mother of his children, Marie B. James; his nephew, Dale James; his niece, Robin Barr; and his grandson, Kevin Paul.

Born in Putnam Lake, New York in 1937, Fred moved to Florida in 1958 with his wife Marie. He worked as an aircraft mechanic for Aerodex, Inc. and Eastern Airlines, taking great pride in both his work and his family.

Fred and Marie shared a love of travel – Hawaii being one of their favorite destinations, even if Deak was a little too determined to visit every volcano he could find. After Marie’s passing, Fred remained active and could often be found walking along the beach or riding his bike all around south Florida, over 30 miles a day. One of his proudest achievements was biking from Miami to Palm Bay, a journey that took him two full days.

Fred had many passions. He loved to dance and was known for his relentless pursuit of a good bargain. There are countless stories about the lengths he would go to save a dollar – or even a nickel. He was truly tireless in his efforts. Fred was famously stubborn, doing things his way, even if it wasn’t the easiest path. He had no boundaries and followed no rules. It wasn’t uncommon to find him mowing the lawn at 11 PM or climbing on the roof at 3 AM. His antics either left you rolling your eyes or laughing until it hurt.

Fred cherished his longtime friendships and could spend hours on the phone debating politics, sports, and finances. He was blessed with wonderful neighbors who were always there with a helping hand.

He especially loved Linda’s cooking – his appetite for lasagna was legendary. Linda inherited many of his fix-it qualities. He taught her how to change a tire, diagnose a car issue, and repair appliances. She doesn’t take it to the degree he did; like keeping a vacuum cleaner held together by rubber bands or maybe she does.

Cathy spoke with him every day – often several times a day. Their first conversation began when he was hanging upside down on his inversion table for 30 minutes a day. Fred was incredibly inquisitive, and Cathy became his personal Google search engine – looking up manufactures’ numbers so he could debate product flaws, ordering his Domino’s pizzas online just to make sure he got the best deal. They would discuss football, politics and he would share with her his advice on car maintenance, finances, and life.

Our father will be deeply missed by all of us who knew and loved him. His spirit, humor and devotion will remain forever in our hearts.

A funeral service for Frederick James will be held Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 11:00 at Fred Hunter’s Funeral Home; 6301 Taft St., Hollywood, FL 33024 with a graveside burial to follow.

The family of Fred James invites you to join them for lunch following the graveside service at approximately 1:00; Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant; 3355 S University Dr., Davie, FL 33328.