Edwin E. Frederick, of Shirley

SHIRLEY: Edwin Ellsworth Frederick, 87, of Shirley, previously of Concord, MA, died peacefully at home surrounded by family, on Sunday, November 17, 2024. Ed was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, the son of Harold and Almeada (Stevens) Frederick. Ed had a childhood full of memories and exploration such as raising the family’s farm animals, playing baseball as a catcher (without equipment until they went door to door raising funds for a mask), and building race cars (with some of his mother’s car parts) to race down at the local fairgrounds. Ed met Barbara in Trinity High School in Washington, PA. Ed swept Barbara off her feet, driving around in his blue and white convertible, even convincing her to sneak out to Pittsburgh, PA for big band concerts and dancing. After high school, Ed joined the Navy where he served as a sonarman 2nd Class petty officer on US Navy Destroyer USS Lloyd Thomas. He had some of his best memories in the Navy and always told his family to “join the Navy to see the world”. Following his honorable discharge from the Armed Forces, Ed attended Washington Jefferson College where he got his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Having a thirst for knowledge, Ed continued his education at Ohio University where he received his master’s degree and PhD in Physics. For over a decade, Ed worked as a staff scientist at AS&E Corporation in Cambridge where he was instrumental in the development of screening x-ray equipment commonly used in airport security areas. In 1984, Ed embarked on his own software development company known as American World Enterprise in Boston. In the early 1990’s, late 1980’s, he accepted the position as Curator of Astronomy at the Ecotarium in Worcester, where he facilitated the planetarium shows, sky watches, and nourished his passion for astronomy. He supplemented the Ecotarium job by teaching astronomy at Clark University in Worcester. In retirement, he enjoyed writing his own books including a "Ten Seconds Inside a Tornado" (a collection of stories from the tornado they survived), Educational books including "Are We Alone in the Universe", and his own autobiography for his family. Ed enjoyed spending time at the beach, family cookouts, and buffalo wings with his Manhattan up with Jim Beam at a restaurant with family. Ed was a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great grandfather. As Ed would say, family is everything. He is survived by his wife, Barbara A. (Kovacic) Frederick; his three daughters; Debra A. Frederick of Shirley, Susan Kurina and her husband Jeff of Marlboro, and Joyce Doolittle and her husband Tom of Altamonte Springs, FL, his brother Bob Frederick and his wife Linda of the Villages, FL, his sister Carolyn Durant and her husband Hiram, of Mobile, Alabama. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren: Kim Roy and her fiancé Justin, Jacci Lisovskis and her husband Oskar, Justin Doolittle, Lindsay Kurina and her fiancé Matt, Ashley Doolittle and her husband Brandon, Brandon Kurina, Jacob Doolittle, Ryan Doolittle, and Tyler Doolittle and four great grandchildren, Devin Cannava, Jon Roy, Lukas Belliveau, Greyson Dooliitle. We will miss his humor, sarcasm and love. Ed will be laid to rest privately in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon. The Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, Ayer is assisting the family with arrangements. www.andersonfuneral.com. in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jimmy Fund www.jimmyfund.org

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Edwin E. Frederick, of Shirley

December 27, 1936 - November 17, 2024