Fred Sprague

Fred A. Sprague has taken his last walk with his dog, Sammy. Thursday, June 1, at the age of 84, Fred passed away after a very brief illness in his adopted hometown of Fremont, California, with his 3 daughters and 1 granddaughter at his side. He was predeceased by his father, Arthur, his mother, Sophie, and his wife, Jean. Fred is survived by his brother, Porter and his wife Gay, his sister Polly Schroedel, his daughters Becky Sprague, Suzanne Sprague, Lisa Duncanson, and Grandchildren Jonathan Sprague, Lily Aiwohi, Alexa Aiwohi, and Julian Duncanson.

After moving many times, Fred’s family made the Vidas Family Farm their home in Campbell, California along with several cousins. Fred graduated from Campbell Union High School and entered the United States Air Force where he earned high enough marks to select the location of his first tour overseas in Spain where he started as an air traffic controller. In an effort to relieve the airmen of the high stress duties that accompany air traffic control, Fred was offered the opportunity to become a radio disc jockey for Armed Forces Radio for the Department of Defense. By this time, Fred was already deeply engrossed with photography, a lifelong passion, and could be found behind a camera at almost any given moment!

After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Fred earned a Bachelor’s Degree from San Jose State University and Masters from California State University, (Hayward) Eastbay. While pursuing his undergrad degree, he took a job at Sears in San Jose, where he met Jean, and they began seeing too many musicals to count, and attending Kennedy Family pool parties. Fred and Jean were married in Willow Glen in San Jose, and Fred found work as a probation officer in Hayward. They moved to Fremont, the halfway spot between Fred’s work and their families. Fred worked for a stint in his wife’s, Jean, family business with Kennedy Tire in San Jose before becoming a Psych Tech at Agnews Developmental Center where he garnered several promotions that led him to administrative positions in the same agency. By the time Fred retired in 1999, he had a couple years working as a Superintendent of Businees at The California School for the Blind.

In retirement, Fred enjoyed the joys of many riveting novels and books from across many genres and recommending said novels, traveling, puzzles, gardening, watching classic movies, volunteering at Lisa’s school, taking his dogs Roxy and then Sammy on long walks, and spending quality time with his daughters and their families.

A memorial service will be held in Fred’s honor Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Cedar Lawn Cemetery, 48800 Warm Springs BLVD, Fremont, CA 94539, (408) 263-2868. The next time you read a good adventure novel, think of Fred! His family hopes that, in lieu of flowers, friends and family consider making a donation to any of Fred’s favorite charities:

o American Legion

o World Wildlife Fund

o Wounded Warriors

o Monterey Bay Aquarium

o Delaine Eastin Elementary School Garden

o PEO