Fred Kamgar

He was born in Tehran, Iran on June 10, 1937, to his parents Vajiollah and Fatemeh. He grew up with his beloved older sister Nahid looking out for him. In 1960, at 22, he immigrated to the United States and settled in Southern California. He learned English, became a U.S. citizen, and built a successful career as an entrepreneur and real estate investor.

The center of Fred's life was his marriage to Linda, his wife of nearly 54 years. Theirs was a partnership built on quiet devotion, and it anchored everything else — the children they raised together and the grandchildren who never failed to delight him.

Fred took up marathon running in midlife and quickly began medaling in his age category and traveling the country to compete. Nearly every week he could be found at a backgammon board, "coaching" the dice and discussing life and the world with his friends. He cherished his long-lived friendships, with many friends feeling more like family. He laughed easily, and no one could resist his infectious sense of humor. He had a way of making people — and even animals — feel at ease.

He is survived by Linda; his children, Fred, Kaveh, and Leila and their spouses Tsion and Andrew; and his grandchildren, Alex, Isaac, Lucy, Leo, Maxim, Cyrus, and Nora, each of whom carries something of him forward.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 2 pm at Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen, 26772 Portola Pkwy, Foothill Ranch, CA. Guests are invited to wear joyful colors and bring their favorite Fred stories to share. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Fred with an act of kindness for someone in need or a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.