Charles A. Fricke

Born October 6, 1921 to Theodore and Caroline and sister Carol. Charles became a decorated Eagle Scout.

He enlisted in the Navy as a radar operator stationed on Okinawa. In 1947 he married Nettie Sovtza. Charles had a successful career first as a draftsman, then becoming the U.S. delegate and Secretary of the NATO committee on standardization of the engineering and drafting symbols. He became a lifetime Mason at Lodge NO. 9 and was an awarded Philatelist. Among his awards, Charles received the Luff Award and The Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award. Charles is survived by his wife, Nettie, sons; David, Michael and Robert, daughters-in-law, Susan and Bobbie, grandchildren, Rob and Robyn. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.

CHARLES A. FRICKE TRIBUTE,

Most fathers and sons have an important "first" in their lives together – that first baseball or football game; the first time the boy learns to throw a pitch or ride a sled; the first time he gets behind the wheel to drive, with Dad in the passenger seat ready to reach over and hit the brake pedal. My dad did all of those things with me. He also did something more important: He took me to my first rock concert.

It was July, 1968 and I had tickets with a friend for a show at the old J.F.K Stadium in South Philly starring the Who and Pink Floyd. The ticket cost $1.00. When my friend bailed at the last minute, Dad – leery of having me ride the Broad Street subway alone at night – agreed to go with me. Then, at the show, he sat three rows away so it didn't look I was at my first rock gig with a chaperon. The show ended early when the skies opened with rain and lightning. But Pink Floyd was amazing – and I was on my way to a life with music and a career in writing about it. I later felt great pride when, after retiring, Dad became a writer too – about his beloved philately, publishing hundreds of articles about his legendary collection and lifelong research.

I have many, other memories of my dad, but that night in 1968 is my favorite. And I still have the ticket stub.