Thomas Charles Frederick, loved the ocean
Thomas Charles Frederick died Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, shortly after a fatal collision when he lost control of his truck near the Lewes Wawa on Coastal Highway. He was 40 years old.
Son of David and Susan Frederick of Lewes, Tom and his twin brother Jack were the first native Sussex Countians in the Frederick family. They were born Dec. 2, 1976, in Milford Memorial Hospital.
The family lived on Second Street in Lewes. But Tom, together with his siblings and other neighborhood kids, claimed the whole town as his turf. He hung out at the Little League park, the basketball courts, the town dock, Lewes Beach and later the state park. He rode his bike to school every day. He was one of King's Ice Cream store's charter customers.
Tom attended Cape district schools from kindergarten through senior year, graduating from Cape Henlopen High School in 1995. Youth sports were a major part of his life as he played on middle school and community soccer, basketball and baseball teams. In high school Tom quarterbacked and captained the Vikings varsity football team and was a midfielder on Cape's lacrosse team. He received the school's Most Valuable Male Athlete Award and the Mike Snell Friendship Award in his senior year.
After a freshman year at UMBC where he also played lacrosse, Tom transferred to the University of Delaware, graduating in 2002.
In the years following graduation, Tom held a variety of jobs. He worked as a waiter in Rehoboth restaurants, and spent time outdoors with local landscaping and surveying jobs. He volunteered as a coach for Atlantic Lacrosse and worked part time at the Milford Boys & Girls Club. He traveled to Wyoming, where he worked at a ski resort and learned to snowboard.
Tom was an Eagles and Phillies fan, and he followed with interest the school and sports life of his nine nieces and nephews. He loved the ocean and spent many hours in the waters off Cape Henlopen State Park.
Tom battled addiction for much of his adult life. Over the years he lost jobs, friends, money, relationships, health. He lost his sense of purpose and peace of mind and joy in living. Often he lost hope. He never lost the love of his family.
In addition to his parents and brother Jack, Tom is survived by Jack's wife, Suzannah Martin Frederick, and children Lina, Will, Meredith and James; brother David Frederick, his wife, Liza Dolan, and children Anna, Elizabeth, Catherine, David and Michael; sister Carrie Frederick, who always stuck up for her baby brother; and many aunts, uncles cousins, and friends.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Tom will take place at 11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 16, at Saint Jude The Apostle Church; friends may visit from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
During the past year, Tom lived in New Castle and received counseling and treatment through Connections Community Support Program. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Connections CSP, 801 W. St., Wilmington, DE 19809 or online at www.connectionscsp.org; or to the Greater Milford Boys & Girls Club, 101 Delaware Veterans Blvd., Milford, DE 19963.
