Fred Gervais Eggert

Fred Eggert was born in Taft, California on Dec. 11, 1931. He was the son of Edward and May Eggert and had three brothers, Tommy, Harry and James and two sisters, Katherine Kurzenski and MaryAnn Schmidt. Fred attended grammar school at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Taft and went on to attend Taft High School where he played football (with leather helmets) and excelled in diving.

After graduating from High School, Fred entered the military, serving in the Air Force during the Korean War. Fred never saw combat but was a military policeman at Travis Air Force Base. After leaving the military, Fred relocated to the Torrance area where he lived with his sister Katherine and her husband Danny and their son Eddie. We are told he changed a diaper or two while he stayed with them!

When in Torrance, one night he attended a social dance at the local Newman Catholic Club with his cousin, Alan Rymer. At this dance, he met the love of his life, Mary Delgado. After much asking (we hear five times), Mary agreed to marry Fred on April 30, 1960. Soon the next year, their first daughter, Carol was born and over the next eleven years, they would have four more children: Paula, Stephen, Christine and Erica.

Mary and Fred bought a home in Lakewood, where they lived for 55 years. They brought their children up in the Catholic tradition at Holy Family Catholic Church, Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School, St. Joseph High School for the girls and St. John Bosco High School for Stephen. Fred was involved in Church life becoming a Charter member of the Knights of Columbus and serving many years in the Holy Name Society.

Fred LOVED his children and was so proud of them. He could often be found at sporting events and even attending musical programs at his children’s schools. Fred was beyond proud of Stephen’s football achievements taking anyone from Grandpa Ed to high school friends to Stephen's Bosco, Cerritos College and Claremont football games. Fred was so proud that all of his children earned college degrees with one of his proudest moments seeing his daughter Christine receive her doctoral degree from Cal State Fullerton.

Fred began a draftsman career in 1961 at Honeywell in Gardena, CA before moving on to co-own the SafeMart Lock and Lawnmower Shop in Gardena, CA with his two brothers-in-law – Chuck Holmes and Bill Delgado. Fred was proud to see that the SafeMart remains in the family with his nephew Phillip Holmes taking the helm. Fred retired in 1998 and began his second career - his grandchildren.

Fred and Mary’s grandchildren were their life. Together they attended so many events from gymnastics, soccer, Super-cross, baseball, swimming, water polo, volleyball, plays and musicals, and soooo much football. Fred traveled all over the country for football. From St. Cyprian’s to St. Joseph Placentia to St. John’s, St. John Bosco, Mater Dei, Laguna Hills, Dartmouth, Georgetown and ending with La Verne. Dad so loved to watch his grandchildren in all their endeavors and even after Mary passed away (2004), he never missed a game or event, and even wore a Whittier baseball tee shirt on his way to heaven.  Mary would be so proud to see how Fred carried on as the best father and Gpa that ever lived.

Fred passed on January 7, 2022. He is survived by his five children and their spouses, 14 grandchildren, five great grandchildren and 56 nieces and nephews. Fred will be remembered at a Celebration of Life, January 22, 2022, at 9:30 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia, CA.

Donations can be made to the "Mary Eggert Confirmation Scholarship Fund".  Please contact Christine Mayfield at [email protected]