Frederic F. Scudder, II

Frederic F. Scudder II, passed on Thursday April 23, 2026, from end stage heart failure. Son of the late Robert F. Scudder and Elise Kimball Scudder, Frederic was born and raised in Hyannis. His grandfather aptly called him Skipper, but he was known to his friends and family as “Skip.” Skip was born with saltwater in his veins and sailed and power boated the waters of Hyannis Harbor and Nantucket Sound primarily, but took longer voyages as far north as Maine and down South to Florida, where he and his wife Sandy spent two winters living on their boat in North Palm beach.

A lifelong sailor, Skip’s first beetle cat came from the Rainbow Fleet in Nantucket. He went on to own and race successfully, a Cape Cod Knockabout, a J-24 and a J-30. He loved racing sailboats at Hyannis Yacht Club and especially loved Block Island Race Week and Edgartown Regatta. Skip raced in Figawi the second year it existed and for many years after. When he stopped racing due to his heart condition, he joined the race committee with his friend, Dennis Sullivan. Skip was part of the Figawi Board of Governors for many years. Skip was a third generation, past commodore of the Hyannis Yacht Club. He loved promoting the sport of sailboat racing, and loved seeing the America’s Cup Races when they were off Newport, R.I. Today, Skip's love of sailing and the water live on through his children and grandchildren.

Skip went through the Barnstable School system, graduating with the class of 1962 at seventeen years old. After graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during the Vietnam War. He was very proud of his service and even extended his time by five months to run a Swift Boat up the Mekong. When he left the service he worked briefly for his father, Robert, and uncle, Richard, at Scudder Sunoco. He then went on to work at what was then, ComElectric as a lineman, where he met his wife at a company cookout.

After his father’s passing Skip joined the family businesses along with his brother Robert M. Scudder. At this time the family businesses were many and included Scudder-Taylor Oil, Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc. (Hyline) and Barnstable Bus. Soon after, Scudder-Taylor Oil expanded to include Tuckertown Oil. At one point there was also involvement in two hotels one being the American Host in West Yarmouth and a long-distance cruise company called Coastwise Cruise Lines. Barnstable Bus was sold but the Nantucket Island Tours division was kept. Eventually, Scudder-Taylor Oil, American Host and Deep River Navigation were also sold. While serving as president of Scudder Taylor Oil, Skip became active in the Hyannis Chamber of Commerce. He was also president of Barnstable Bus and Nantucket Island Tours. His brother passed young, leaving Skip his interest in these endeavors. At Skip’s uncle’s passing, he became chairman of the board for Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc for a few years, until selling his 50 percent interest to three of his Scudder cousins. Skip was most proud of his quarter interest in Oyster Harbors Marine, Inc. This fit his personality completely. He loved ripping boats apart and putting them back together. Skip could always be found varnishing or working on engines…the whole works. He loved talking to people and could walk the docks talking to whomever would listen.

Skip is survived by his wife, Sandra Aleta Scudder (Brown), daughter Melissa C. Hennigan and her husband Mark, Ryan F. Scudder and his wife Bryony Scudder (Muniz-Dube), Frederic F. Scudder III, grandsons Tavish W. McCoy, Kayden F. Scudder, Quinten F. Scudder, Finn F. Scudder. He is also survived by his brother- and sister-in-law Joseph and Lorraine Cabral and brother-and sister-in-law Ronald and Ondrea Robertson. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Robert M. Scudder and brother-in-law Robert G. Brown, his cousins Stephen Kimball, Ralph Kimball, Patricia Sanford Hamblin, Priscilla Doane Gregoire and David F. Scudder. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins here in the U.S. He was especially fond of his cousin Susan Wetherbee in Australia.

Visitation will be at Doane, Beal and Ames Funeral Home, 160 West Main Street, Hyannis, on Friday May 29th, from three to seven. Funeral, at the Federated Church of Hyannis, 320 Main Street, on May 30th at eleven, followed by a collation at the Hyannis Yacht Club. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Barnstable High School Sailing Team or the Cape Cod Tech Marine Services Program.