Fred Slavic

A member of “The Greatest Generation” Fred Slavic died at Bentley Common in Keene, N.H. on October 6, 2013. Born in Philadelphia to Clara and Harry Slavic on January 1, 1917, he and his wife lived in Fitzwilliam N.H. for more than 41 years. Fred Slavic grew up during the Great Depression and sailed as a merchant seaman in the Second World War. He survived German bombs in Italy and North Africa and the attacks of Japanese Suicide Pilots off of Okinawa in the Pacific.

Fred Slavic, an inventor from his early boyhood until the present, was always curious about the way things worked. During World War II he worked for Lockheed designing the tools which helped us win that war. Fond of sailing he went to sea as a merchant seaman while in his teens and after working ashore for several years rejoined the Merchant Marines and served at sea from 1942 until 1945.

Among Fred Slavic’s inventions is the Ripstrate, a table saw attachment that has prevented many hand injuries and saved countless thousands of fingers. Fred Slavic was also a printer and publisher who with his artist and author wife, Rosalind formed a publishing company, Panda Prints which revolutionized the greeting card industry and turned a small niche branch of that industry into today’s studio card business. Rosalind Slavic says that there wasn’t a thing that her husband couldn’t do if he put his mind to it.

Fred Slavic enjoyed drawing, writing and photography and turned several of Rosalind’s children’s books into animated films. One of them, “When Nino Flew” was judged to be among the ten best children’s films of the year in which it appeared.

With his wife, Rosalind, Fred enjoyed the outdoors including hiking, snowshoeing and sailing. After crossing the Atlantic in their 44 ft. Sparkman & Stephens yawl built by Fred with the help of two boat builders, Fred and Rosalind spent seven successive summers under sail and finally ended their overseas voyaging after reaching Turkey and the Middle East.

For the last 20 plus years Fred and Rosalind have been active members of the Fitzwilliam Conservation Commission. So strong has been their attachment to the environment that they have willed their 300 acre property bordering Rhododendron State Park in Fitzwilliam to the North East Wilderness Trust. It will be maintained as a wilderness area and wildlife sanctuary.

Mr. Slavic is survived by his wife of 68 years, Rosalind Slavic of Fitzwilliam, his sister Estelle Gluck of FL, his three nieces Sharon Freedman of NY, Eileen Markowitz of NJ, Carol Hammond of FL, and his nephew Barry Gluck of CA and many good friends.

A remembrance for Mr. Slavic will be held at the Fitzwilliam Town Hall, 13 Templeton Turnpike on Sunday, November 3rd at 2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Fred Slavic’s memory to the Northeast Wilderness Trust, 17 State Street, Suite 302, Montpelier, VT 05602.