COLUMBIA It is with profound sadness that we announce the loss of the patriarch of the Cole family. Frederick W. Cole, 74, died peacefully at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, S.C. on Friday, June 11, 2021.
Fred was born in Providence, RI on December 11, 1946 to Jenny Barker Cox and was raised in Jamestown, RI with his five siblings. He shared 52 years of marriage with his loving wife, Judy (Keroack) Cole, whom he married in 1968 in Plymouth, NH.
He attended Rogers High School in Newport, RI where he graduated in 1965. Fred then went on to further his education at Dean Junior College in Franklin, MA from 1965 to 1967. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Plymouth State College in 1970 where he was also the President of TKE fraternity and played lacrosse. In 1976, he completed his Master’s of Education and Administration from Suffolk University in Boston, MA.
From 1970-2000, Fred was the Physical Education teacher, Department Chair, Assistant Principal and Football Coach at Manchester Central High School. Along with his teaching duties, he was also an Assistant Football Coach at his alma mater, Plymouth State College, from the years 1993 to 1994. Fred then went on to become the Assistant Principal at Nease High School in St. Augustine, FL from 2000-2010.
Fred is survived by his wife, Judy; two sons, Jason (wife Lauren) of Ypsilanti, MI and Ryan (wife Sandi) of Chapin, S.C.; grandchildren, Emily, Abby, Alex, and Noah; and siblings, Mark Vieira of Manchester, NH, Paul (Mary Ann) Vieira of Jamestown, RI, Neal (Alana) Vieira of Portland, ME and Lynn (Dennis) Burnell of Kingfield, ME. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jenny Barker Cox; stepfather, David Vieira and brother, David Vieira.
Fred was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He never met a person he did not know and was always eager to brighten someone’s day with a joke, or two. He had a passion for everything golf and spent many a day winning money and telling jokes at the nearest golf course. Always making sure to wear two pairs of pants, in case he got a hole in one, and avoiding the nearest “potfor” or “mattahdeer”. When they made Fred Cole, they broke the mold. There will never be another one like him and that’s no joke.
There will be celebrations of Fred’s life in Rhode Island and New Hampshire in July. Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Columbia, S.C., is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Tee, PO Box 3055 Ponte Vedra Beach FL, 32004 or firsttee.org/donate/.
Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.
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