Mike or John, do you remember what kind of car Fred drove? He took me to Wurzbach Road, (didn't it used to be Kenny Road, or was that Callaghan, oh well) down by the old castle, and tried to teach me how to drive. I came so close to rolling the car. We were both scared to death, I am so glad we had some time to laugh about it later. I too, still think of Fred and will always wonder what I could have done to help him through what had to have been a terrible time in his life. Does anyone know what was going on at the time of his passing?
I saw Fred late Sunday afternoon. I believe he died later that night. We were driving around and stopped to visit. We were laughing about the football game that weekend. He got arrested at the game, I think, Drinking. I know that he want to jail because we were laughing about the jailers taking belts and shoe laces to prevent suicides in jail. That conversation still haunts me. I truly believe that there was something much deeper going on. He was a great friend and I always wish I could have helped him.
Wow. after all these years i think of Fred also. Im not the only one that felt guilty that i couldnt help him. Reading everyone's comments has helped me feel im part of a very special group.
For some reason every time i hear the song "Shes come undone", by the Zombies, i think, to this day i think of him and the dark cloud that hung over all of his friends during that time.
Dee, the person that got arrested at the football game was Keith Revel (another great guy who left us too soon). I was kinda with that group, which included Fred. My friends' brother was an attorney and got Keith out of jail. A bunch of us, including Fred, were over at the same friend's apartment after that happened, i think on a Friday nite. At some point i remember seeing Fred outside by himself, overlooking the balcony outside the apartment, smoking a cigarette, uncharacteristically quiet. I walked over to him and said "feeling sorry for yourself?" That comment haunts me to this day. So stupid and insensitve.
I hadnt known Fred that long, but i also remember how funny he was. He came to my friend Susie's apartment one time, Halloween nite, i guess 1969, not long before he died. The 3 of us went "trick or treating" around the apartment complex, lots of parties going on, and one guy gave us a sixpack of beer! We thought that was the coolest thing since sliced bread!
Fred, you touched, and still touch, alot of lives. I was, and am, priviledged to have known you.
thank you Barbara...it helps so much to hear all this about Fred...his death had a profound effect on so many of us...and it's good to hear from you....I remember you and Cheryl as so funny and fun to be around...I was a geek and so shy (I'm over it :) so many times I just kind of observed from the sidelines but Fred and I had a bond....we would talk the whole lunch hour out behind the gym...I love animals and I remember my hamster had babies...I gave one to Fred...he would call and say..''ah not sure what to do with this hamster.'' and why did you give me a hamster?".....answer being ''she had 12'' :)....the Zombies ..wow such a memory...as far as your.''feeling sorry for yourself?" comment ....what teenage doesn't say stuff like that? Fred would tell you to let that go :) have a great day John Dimler
Fred was at Susie's that night, after a football game, so it must have been in 1969. I didn't really know Fred, but Susie and Barb Holliday were my neighbors, so a group of us were there. Susie had moved into an apartment. We heard later that Fred had gone to his mother's, I think, and she called the police on him. I thought he was arrested, and was bailed out by one of the guys. But then he went to maybe his father's house, got a shotgun, and shot himself. So sad to be so young and to feel so unloved by your parents. Poor boy.
Barbara Holliday, it was I who spent that night with Keitj in Bexar County jail. It was not a good evening. It was Fred who loaned money in order to leave the jail. The night before his death, I tried to return Fred his money. He told me the same thing as others..” don’t woo, I don’t need it “. Being a pallbearer at his funeral was the hardest action I had ever done. I’ve never lost sight of Fred and Keith.
I don't know if you remember me but you and I and Fred had a conversation the Sunday afternoon before he died. We were laughing about the jail exploits. We were all riding around(Red 62 Galaxie 500) as many of us did on Sunday afternoon and we pulled off to visit. I want to thank you for your kindness that next Monday. You had a hall pass and came to my first period class. You took me out into the hall and broke the news to me, in private, with lots of hugs and tears. I think you even had a pass for me to go home. It is funny how that little thing has stayed so clear in my mind for all of these years. It meant a lot!!! I hope all is well with you. A belated hug for a kind deed!!!
Carol! Of course I remember you! And yes I remember the memory you posted. Between Fred and Scott, I am at times consumed with very distinct memories. I’m past the point of the “what if” and “if only I...” Now I have, mostly, pure joyful thoughts of them. I witnessed first hand what drugs did to Scott, but Fred was quite different. I knew he had a lot of both physical pain as well as mental. He talked to me so often of both. One evening John Dimler and I drove to Austin in search of a friend going through a rough time. On the way up we had a wonderful conversation about Fred. It was John that actually helped make some semblance of sense of it all. I will always miss my buddy. Now to you. I hope you are well and happy. I am so glad you reached out. It’s odd how certain people from many years past will randomly pop into your memory bank. You just happen to be one. Take care.
Hi Cran thanks for your post. Ok, this get even wierder. I went out with Scott the December and January before he died. His sister Karen was a good friend of mine and I knew he was in recovery. We had fun together and talked alot about his addiction. I was also devistated. I always believed they his death kept me on the right course away from drugs. I guess just my way of justifying his loss. In fact I smoked once and had such horrible night mares with Scott in them that I said no more. Funny the way we are connected.
All is great with me. Truly a blessed life. Hope yours is the same.
John Dimler
Oh my God...that would be so great..it would be great to see the picture...I can't wait....and thanks again sincerely,John Dimler
Dee Harkins
Mike or John, do you remember what kind of car Fred drove? He took me to Wurzbach Road, (didn't it used to be Kenny Road, or was that Callaghan, oh well) down by the old castle, and tried to teach me how to drive. I came so close to rolling the car. We were both scared to death, I am so glad we had some time to laugh about it later. I too, still think of Fred and will always wonder what I could have done to help him through what had to have been a terrible time in his life. Does anyone know what was going on at the time of his passing?
Carol Edmister (Derkowski)
I saw Fred late Sunday afternoon. I believe he died later that night. We were driving around and stopped to visit. We were laughing about the football game that weekend. He got arrested at the game, I think, Drinking. I know that he want to jail because we were laughing about the jailers taking belts and shoe laces to prevent suicides in jail. That conversation still haunts me. I truly believe that there was something much deeper going on. He was a great friend and I always wish I could have helped him.
Carol Edmister Derkowski
Class of 1971
Barbara Holliday
Wow. after all these years i think of Fred also. Im not the only one that felt guilty that i couldnt help him. Reading everyone's comments has helped me feel im part of a very special group.
For some reason every time i hear the song "Shes come undone", by the Zombies, i think, to this day i think of him and the dark cloud that hung over all of his friends during that time.
Dee, the person that got arrested at the football game was Keith Revel (another great guy who left us too soon). I was kinda with that group, which included Fred. My friends' brother was an attorney and got Keith out of jail. A bunch of us, including Fred, were over at the same friend's apartment after that happened, i think on a Friday nite. At some point i remember seeing Fred outside by himself, overlooking the balcony outside the apartment, smoking a cigarette, uncharacteristically quiet. I walked over to him and said "feeling sorry for yourself?" That comment haunts me to this day. So stupid and insensitve.
I hadnt known Fred that long, but i also remember how funny he was. He came to my friend Susie's apartment one time, Halloween nite, i guess 1969, not long before he died. The 3 of us went "trick or treating" around the apartment complex, lots of parties going on, and one guy gave us a sixpack of beer! We thought that was the coolest thing since sliced bread!
Fred, you touched, and still touch, alot of lives. I was, and am, priviledged to have known you.
Barb Holliday
John Dimler
thank you Barbara...it helps so much to hear all this about Fred...his death had a profound effect on so many of us...and it's good to hear from you....I remember you and Cheryl as so funny and fun to be around...I was a geek and so shy (I'm over it :) so many times I just kind of observed from the sidelines but Fred and I had a bond....we would talk the whole lunch hour out behind the gym...I love animals and I remember my hamster had babies...I gave one to Fred...he would call and say..''ah not sure what to do with this hamster.'' and why did you give me a hamster?".....answer being ''she had 12'' :)....the Zombies ..wow such a memory...as far as your.''feeling sorry for yourself?" comment ....what teenage doesn't say stuff like that? Fred would tell you to let that go :) have a great day John Dimler
Melissa Belknap
Fred was at Susie's that night, after a football game, so it must have been in 1969. I didn't really know Fred, but Susie and Barb Holliday were my neighbors, so a group of us were there. Susie had moved into an apartment. We heard later that Fred had gone to his mother's, I think, and she called the police on him. I thought he was arrested, and was bailed out by one of the guys. But then he went to maybe his father's house, got a shotgun, and shot himself. So sad to be so young and to feel so unloved by your parents. Poor boy.
Cranston Dodds
Barbara Holliday, it was I who spent that night with Keitj in Bexar County jail. It was not a good evening. It was Fred who loaned money in order to leave the jail. The night before his death, I tried to return Fred his money. He told me the same thing as others..” don’t woo, I don’t need it “. Being a pallbearer at his funeral was the hardest action I had ever done. I’ve never lost sight of Fred and Keith.
Carol Edmister (Derkowski)
Cran,
I don't know if you remember me but you and I and Fred had a conversation the Sunday afternoon before he died. We were laughing about the jail exploits. We were all riding around(Red 62 Galaxie 500) as many of us did on Sunday afternoon and we pulled off to visit. I want to thank you for your kindness that next Monday. You had a hall pass and came to my first period class. You took me out into the hall and broke the news to me, in private, with lots of hugs and tears. I think you even had a pass for me to go home. It is funny how that little thing has stayed so clear in my mind for all of these years. It meant a lot!!! I hope all is well with you. A belated hug for a kind deed!!!
Carol Edmister Derkowski
Cranston Dodds
Carol! Of course I remember you! And yes I remember the memory you posted. Between Fred and Scott, I am at times consumed with very distinct memories. I’m past the point of the “what if” and “if only I...” Now I have, mostly, pure joyful thoughts of them. I witnessed first hand what drugs did to Scott, but Fred was quite different. I knew he had a lot of both physical pain as well as mental. He talked to me so often of both. One evening John Dimler and I drove to Austin in search of a friend going through a rough time. On the way up we had a wonderful conversation about Fred. It was John that actually helped make some semblance of sense of it all. I will always miss my buddy. Now to you. I hope you are well and happy. I am so glad you reached out. It’s odd how certain people from many years past will randomly pop into your memory bank. You just happen to be one. Take care.
Carol Edmister (Derkowski)
Hi Cran thanks for your post. Ok, this get even wierder. I went out with Scott the December and January before he died. His sister Karen was a good friend of mine and I knew he was in recovery. We had fun together and talked alot about his addiction. I was also devistated. I always believed they his death kept me on the right course away from drugs. I guess just my way of justifying his loss. In fact I smoked once and had such horrible night mares with Scott in them that I said no more. Funny the way we are connected.
All is great with me. Truly a blessed life. Hope yours is the same.