Frederick Charles Kramer

Fred Kramer, 97, passed away on January 23. Born at home in Long Island City on July 12, 1920, he was a child of immigrant parents and first lived with his extended family above his father’s grocery in Sunnyside. His father died when Fred was 12, and his mom moved the family, Fred with his older brother Bill and younger sister Ruth, to Lake Ronkonkoma on Long Island. Fred graduated from Sayville High School in 1938, and then worked to support the family. Although athletic, while a teenager, Fred had shattered his leg, an injury which never fully healed. Unable to serve in the military, Fred worked at Grumman Aircraft during the war. Afterwards, he went on to become a store manager for the Singer company where he met his future wife, Adelaide Scudder, at the Huntington, Long Island, store. They fell in love and were married on July 30, 1949. Their love continued for almost 65 years when Addie died in February of 2014. They had two children who they imaginatively named Fred and Addie. After retiring from Singer, and now employed only part time, Fred had his first opportunity to return to school and he obtained his associate degree from Suffolk Community College in 1977. They then moved to Florida to be closer to their children and grandchildren, Chris, Michelle, Elizabeth, and Kristin. On moving to Tampa, he and Addie volunteered at the newly opened Moffitt Cancer Center. Fred stayed as a volunteer for over 26 years until last October. Over these years, he contributed more than 20,000 hours supporting patients and their families with his constant smile and his jokes and riddles. Fred is survived not only by his children and grandchildren, but also by four great-grandchildren, Walter, Ava, Javi, and Calvin, with more expected.

Fred will be laid to rest and join Addie at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater. A celebration of life will be held 3:00 pm, Saturday, February 3 at University Village, Tampa. Donations in his memory may be made either to Moffitt Cancer Center or Forest Hills Presbyterian Church of Tampa.