It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Frederick’s unexpected death on Saturday, June 14, after a short period of illness.

Fred was born in East Williams Township near Strathroy, Ontario.  His parents, Earl and Mildred (nee Zavitz) raised Fred, their second youngest child, and his siblings Shirley, Robert, Carl, and Ron on the family farm near Denfield, Ontario. His musical talents were recognized at a very young age and he actually played the organ for a wedding for the first time at the age of nine. That began a lifetime second job and passion for both piano and organ. He was the organist in churches in Madoc, Parkhill, and for many years at First Baptist Church in Port Hope. He played both organ and piano for countless weddings, funerals, concerts, and fundraising events.  He particularly enjoyed entertaining family and friends at the keyboard of his much-loved black ebony baby grand piano. Sadly, he was not able to enjoy playing for the past few weeks of his illness.

Fred attended Western University and graduated in 1965. He began his teaching career at a high school in Kitchener. He then became enchanted with the varied topography and rock cuts in the Madoc area, which were so different from the flat vistas of Southwestern Ontario. He accepted a position at Madoc Secondary School in 1967, where he met Nancy Margaret Empey and soon became ensconced in the Empey family at Empeco Farm, Eldorado, Ontario. Leaving Madoc for a year, he taught at a secondary school in Sarnia while Nancy taught in Jamaica. Fred and Nancy later reconnected on the staff at Tweed Hungerford District Secondary School and were married on the first day of spring, 1970. Over 55 years of marriage, Fred and Nancy became each other’s beloved and each other’s best friends.

After teaching at Millbrook High School while Nancy attended Peterborough teachers’ college, Fred transitioned to teaching at the elementary school level when he and Nancy moved to Port Hope in 1971. Most of his career in the Cobourg and Port Hope area involved teaching French immersion, core French, and library classes. After his retirement, he was often hailed on a walk through downtown Port Hope with the greeting, “Bonjour Monsieur!  Arachides ou bonbons?” He loved these impromptu meetings with former students.

Fred retired in 1998 but continued with supply teaching, tutoring, and musical contributions to the community for a number of years.  On his bicycle, he covered countless miles around Port Hope, the township, and even as far as Lakeport. He and Nancy both relished long walks in and around Port Hope, Cobourg, and Millbrook. He enjoyed socializing with family, friends, and close neighbours. Fred and Nancy spent several holidays in Jamaica, where they had maintained close ties with several families of Nancy’s former students.

Above all, Fred’s greatest joy was raising two daughters, Meghan and Dana, watching their careers with pride, and spending countless special birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays with them and Nancy at their personal paradise in Port Hope. When sons-in-law Julio Delgado and Marshall Abecassis joined the Thomas family, there were even more special times around the dining room table. In 2018, Dana and Marshall surprised Nancy and Fred with a treasured grandson, Reuben. Reuben’s name for his grandfather is “Freddy”, with whom he spent lots of exploratory time on the piano bench at Fred’s baby grand piano.

Fred is survived by his siblings Shirley (Bob Price), Carl (Marilyn), and Ron (Jocelyne), as well as a host of nephews, nieces, and cousins. Also surviving are his brother-in-law, Richard Empey, and many relatives on the Empey side.

Fred did not want to be remembered in a formal funeral setting and private arrangements are being made for a future interment at the Eldorado Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life for Fred this summer at 3pm on Sunday, August 17th, 2025, at St. Mark's Parish Hall (51 King Street, Port Hope). All are welcome from 3pm onward, as a private event will take place prior.

Fred was extremely concerned about the state of the environment and was a generous donor to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Donations in his memory to that organization would be a fitting tribute and much appreciated.