Goodbye dear Fred
December 25, 2008
This space is for all who knew Fred to express our feelings and thoughts about Fred with each other and with his family. He is very deeply missed.
Please feel free to express condolences in the comments section below.
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I knew Fred from his first year in Bologna. He was young and handsome. I guess I’m about five years older than he and he asked if I would be his Mrs. Robinson. We joked for years about whether that was an insult or a compliment. Fred, you brought so much happiness and love to everyone. You really liked most everyone. You were so creative, so sharp, so gregarious.
It is very hard to understand the death of someone so full of life, like Freddy. He had an answer for every difficult question, an insight for every topic of interest, and a witty repartee for every mundane conversation. He will be sorely missed.
Fred was a bit larger than life and when he joined a group of people, the scene became classier and more clever — a discussion that you’d be proud of participating in. He wasn’t just a smart, funny guy but an entertainer as well.
If Fred had to leave us, I’m glad that he did it skiing in the Austrian alps, having a blast at the top of the world. He would have a dry, funny comment on how he passed away (he’s probably having one now.)
Fred,
Your da capo rendition of our Bologna theme medley at the reunion last May has immortalized you in my mind. Hard to believe you are gone now. You are greatly missed!
Gerold
Fred was a rare individual who maintained his integrity and his inimitable sense of humor while giving eloquent discourses on topics ranging from the sublime to the pedestrian.
In short, he was a shining light of Bologna and I greatly appreciated the times I did get to share with him.
My heart goes out to his family. The loss of a loved one with so much promise, who died far too young, is a tragedy. Words cannot assuage the pain. Time does not heal all wounds. However, my life and countless others were enriched for having known Fred and I shall always remember him.
I am truly and deeply sorry for your loss.
-Josh
Oh Freddy, you are such a handful. No surprise that we all loved you so much. Now that I’ve had a few days to think about it, it’s just so unbelievable that you’re gone. You really made every moment, from the most ordinary to the most amazing, more fun, interesting, and engaging. You made everyone feel just as witty and fantastic as you!
I’ll miss you! Hope you’re having a good time in wherever ever land. We definitely miss you down here.
Lots of love,
Melody
Fred was one of the first people I met when in Bologna and to this day remains one of the most insightful people I’ve ever known. He had eloquence and wit, and a self-effacing humor which endeared him to me and to those around him. I am shocked and saddened by the loss of an individual who had so much to offer, and I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Fred, we will miss you so much, and are all struggling to come to terms with your passing. Indeed, your phenomenal rendition of the Bologna Center medley at the reunion in May will live on (and on and on)… Our condolences to your friends and family.
My first shock turned into a deep sadness and feeling of loss. Fred was so full of life, wit, energy and humor and I feel very lucky to have known him. Our Bologna year wouldn’t have been the same without him. We will miss him a lot. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Bolognese,
Fred was a strong student and a great guy. I remember his anthem from the spring of 2003 very well. He joked about how I made everything in economics too mathematical. It is sad to lose a man at so young an age, but he died doing what he loved. My family and I will be skiing in the Sierra tomorrow, and I will look west toward the sun and think of Frederick Hood.
Prof. Eric Fisher
Sad to see such an enthusiatic young man die doing what he enjoyed. Although I only met him once, he is still my cousin & he’ll be sadly missed by all his Australian cousins.
We are lost for word to express our sadness in your passing. We will keep alive all the great mermories we shared together. May you rest in peace and look after the love ones you left behind.
I looked through the Bologna ’03 yearbook today. I also ran across a CD with photos from the Austrian Ball. There were several pics of Fred doing the medley. The ones with Prof. Row are particularly wonderful and wrenching at the same time.
Fred, you were part of a very special period of my life. You epitomized wit, drama and class. It breaks my heart to know that you are gone. You will be missed.
sharpest and most british of wits. a surprising and surprisingly disarming kindness. on a bologna balcony, shivering cold and red wine, far too many cigarettes, incomparable company till dawn. undeniable and undenied brilliance. a powerful and lasting impression. one of a kind. gone far too soon.
you are missed.
When Fred was around, I would have difficulty concealing my naked envy of his effortless and rakish charm. Attempting to match wits with him was bound to be a humbling learning experience; far better to follow his lead. Fred was a presence, and that presence will survive Fred. So long friend.
Dear Fred. What a pity. Why is it that it’s always the smartest, most charming, most promising among us that have to hang up their skates so early? If I were to pick one among us at Bologna who was destined to make a real mark on the world, I would have picked you. But, I’ve no doubt you still have left your mark on many who knew you better than I did. I count myself as fortunate to have gotten to know you. Hope you’re rolling strikes up in the shiny lanes above.
He was so charismatic. It’s a terrible loss, come far too soon.
To Fred’s Family: Your grief must be immense, and my thoughts are with you. But if anything can be said of Fred, it’s that he really lived his life, and we should all be so lucky. You should be very proud of him, and know that he is missed by many.
I miss you Fred. This doesn’t make any sense.
Fred was handsome, clever, charming and brilliant. I am lucky to have known him. Thank you for being you, Fred.
Dearest Fred,
I just can’t believe you’re gone. A couple of weeks ago, we were still talking on the phone and you were telling me about all your future plans. You were so full of life, and probably the most brilliant mind our doctoral program has ever known. You were a great friend and a wonderful colleague to all of us.
Your company, advice, wisdom and wit will be sorely missed, by all those who ever had the luck to get to know you better.
Even though I don’t really know, I can only hope that there is some kind of life after this one. The Italians never say goodbye, but always ‘see you again.’
So, arreviderci, amico mio. Ci vediamo.
Matthias
This is truly a tragic loss. So unexpected. Fred is such a great guy. I am so glad I made it out to see you in Bologna the first year I lived in Venice. Fred has taught me to live life to the fullest, laugh at yourself, and to not be afraid when life takes an unexpected turn.
Fred you are such a center in this solar system. You are sorely missed.
I wish peace and solace to Fred’s close family and friends. I will be praying for you in this difficult time.
Theresa
To Fred’s family and loved ones: we are thinking of you and your tragic loss.
Deepest sympathies to you and please know that although many of Fred’s friends will not be able to attend his memorial service in New York, we will be remembering him from all over the world.
Dear all,
I want you to know how loved Fred was at the end of his life. He was the person I’d always waited for and I was that for him. I will copy, here, the last email I ever sent him. He never saw it, so I offer it to you all as a taste of what we had.
My dearest monsieur,
Why do I miss you so much? It is silly!
It is almost bed-time and the dark seeps inside through the windows and I can hear shufflings upstairs, and the humph, and the mouse-clickings of Papa behind on the other computer. This morning we cut holly from a tree near the steading and Gilbert and Adam talked about terrorism and hacking, while Dina and I cut it and put it in a basket, and little Adam laughed in his backpack. Do you know that part, at the back of the house, where rose-bay willow herb grows copiously? It is so lovely now. It looks like there is snow fallen on it, but really it is the light, white seed parachutes that emerge after the flowers die back, and even in the late morning, the light seemed low, and seemed to catch all the whiteness everywhere and there was something magic. And the wind was blowing so hard and we could see the trees beaten about and their final leaves spun away and now they are quite quite naked. Then, in the afternoon, we went into the woods and found a Christmas tree and Mummy wanted the really small one, and Gilbert said ‘don’t you realise everyone will think all the men in this house have tiny cocks?’ and we all laughed and Daddy suggested the enormous towering one that must be 40 metres high. And we compromised with a rather fun rather wide one, which somehow looks sort of characterful and Adam sawed in down with great speed, and then declared he was allergic to Christmas trees, so Dina and I carried it in, like the fine Miss Strappings that we are. Little Adam is standing, and has that special knack of finding dangerous and destructive things to do. I think he thinks something like ‘hm… what next? Ah, look, all those books in the bookshelf need pulling out.’ and then ‘oh, I know, I could put my fingers in the socket’ and then ‘ooo a walking stick! For me? Yes, I will use it to bash things, like that porcelain over there.’ He has been almost entirely merry today. And he’s learned to point, so he points at things and says something that resembles ‘that?’ and then we all say ‘that’s a picture of a bird’, ‘that’s a door’, ‘that’s uncle Adam’. And he laughs in a most pleasing way.
But with all this, I miss you so very much and I think about you in every moment. Tell me how you are, if you ever have a moment. I shan’t be hurt if you don’t write right back, because I know you’re constantly busy.
All love,
Your Sophie
‘… there is nothing left remarkable beneath the visiting moon.’
I have always been impressed and completely charmed by Fred’s engaging intellect, creative energy, keen wit and mischievous sense of humour. I regret deeply that my interactions with Fred were so fleeting and that I will never have the chance to know him better.
Fred will be sorely missed by our Bologna community. We will never forget him.
Dear Fred,
Where to start. When I saw you a month ago you were the happiest I have ever seen you; I can only thank your lovely Sophie for that. You were right when you told me she was truly special, I can assure you however you very much deserved her.
I think back to last five years: Vial Solferino,Trebbi, Sangiovese, the Bologna Center, De Gaulle, Burke, Liberalism, PCI, Gladio, Cavour, Proportional Represantation, our three way birthday, Rosalba’s lasagna, Ditchling and Street. The list goes on, I will take the memories we shared wherever I go.
Above all thank you, thank you for being the best possible friend, thank you for coming into our lives, and thank you for the happiness you brought us.
I will miss you, I will miss you a lot, but rest assured I will never forget these years together.
Goodbye my friend, your were the best of us all.
Saverio
Agree with Simon Hood, a tragic occurrence. I never knew Freddy well, living so far away but I feel enormously for his parents, brothers and sister and know their feelings well. He was clearly popular and left a lasting impression on all he met. There are no better compliments to any person than the kind and sincere words left here for him.
Dear Fred
Three weeks ago you were sitting in my flat dressed to the nines en route to SPEC. A few too many glasses of vin rouge meant you stayed much longer than you intended. For that, I will always now be grateful. We both agreed that life was pretty fantastic and you were on the happiest, bounciest form I had ever known you to be since we were introduced, via this SAIS community, in Edinburgh.
You leave a gaping hole here, and around the world. This comes with lots of love, always, Amy xxxx
Freddie-
“I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”
- Winston Churchill
You lived your life with vim, vigor, zest and zeal. I feel truly lucky to have known you and will miss you dearly. Jamais, je ne t’oublierai.
Love,
Linky
Dear Fred
I was so looking forward to seeing you again this week in Australia. I was even thinking I could try to get you to surf again – even though the last time we did that I had to drag you, panting and clutching to my leg rope, back to your cigarettes on the beach.
Freddy, you were my cousin from another world – I spent most of our time together in awe of your intellect. Im proud to say that after that week on the Gold Coast, we were not just cousins, but good friends.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wit with my friends and I – because of you, a bunch of ignorant surfers finally won the meat tray at the Mermaid Surf Club trivia night. Although that was a few years ago now, you are still remembered amongst my friends.
A truly unforgettable spirit, we will miss you
Love Josh
Dear Fred
The most charming, refined and beautifully natured young man I have had the fortune to meet. Such fierce intellect and eloquence with not a whiff of disdain to those less gifted. Goodbye Fred, you will be sorely missed in the office and I will miss your visits to the library. You are a bright shining star who will shine on in our hearts forever.
Moira
I did not know Fred very well but he always impressed me as someone who had so little negative feelings: he seemed to have something nice to say to everyone and I do believe everyone liked him… and that’s a rare feat to accomplish. I remember when we went on vacation to Sicily for a week while in Bologna and it was so fun, so much laughter…
My thoughts go out to his loved ones…. He was a rare individual and he will be sorely missed, even by those he just touched in passing.
Justine
One of the most enjoyable weeks of my life was spent with Freddy in Portofino at the end of our time together at the Bologna Center in 2007. The stand out memory being Fred and I laughing uncontrollably at Timo’s relentless snoring.
Kind, funny, affectionate and of rare intellect, Fred was truly one of a kind.
I’ll miss him greatly.
I haven’t seen Fred in quite a while, but have such fond memories of him from our time in Bologna. His keen intellect and devilish charm, his sweet nature and genuine kindness, and the way he really just sparkled.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends. I consider myself extremely lucky to have known Fred.
Buonanotte fiorellino (Francesco De Gregori)
Buonanotte, buonanotte amore mio
Buonanotte tra il telefono e il cielo
Ti ringrazio per avermi stupito
Per avermi giurato che e’ vero
Il granturco nei campi e’ maturo
Ed ho tanto bisogno di te
La coperta e’ gelata e l’estate e’ finita
Buonanotte, questa notte e’ per te
Buonanotte, buonanotte fiorellino
Buonanotte tra le stelle e la stanza
Per sognarti devo averti vicino
E vicino non e’ ancora abbastanza
Ora un raggio di sole si e’ fermato
Proprio sopra il mio biglietto scaduto
Tra i fiocchi di neve e le tue foglie di te’
Buonanotte, questa notte e’ per te
Buonanotte, buonanotte monetina
Buonanotte tra il mare e la pioggia
La tristezza passera’ domattina
E l’anello restera’ sulla spiaggia
Gli uccellini nel vento non si fanno mai male
Hanno ali piu’ grandi di me
E dall’alba al tramonto sono soli nel sole
Buonanotte, questa notte e’ per te
I knew Fred many years ago, during his first two years at Harvard, but his wit and style were unforgettable. I’ll always remember his remarkable Russian accent when he played Val in our production of “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” in 1999. The people around Fred were the cool kids, by definition. To the Hood family, I hope you find comfort. Many people remember Fred and his talent so fondly.
Bye Fred,
People like you are to rare so we can afford to lose them…
You’ll be remembered and missed.
I first met Fred during rehearsal for a theater performance at Harvard around the spring of 1999. He was funny, charming, quick on his feet, and he brought a lot of joy and laughter to those around him. I can’t claim I ever knew him well, but I feel acutely that the world lost an extraordinary human being on that Austrian mountainside. I add my condolences to Fred’s family and close friends, and I hope that they can find some measure of peace. You and Fred will be in my thoughts in the days to come.
Glasses raised, we stand stunned by the silence,
Our great expectations as deserved as they are gone.
What to say when reason and art, together, are mugged in the alley?
We can almost hear your quip, reminding us that what we thought was far is near,
That belly laughs and tragedy, surprise equally employs,
And class and crass enjoy the same fine bourbon after dinner.
What we are is so much more than what we leave out.
More than our tribe, more than our history,
We are together because some muse saw us,
Saw us for more and for less than we were.
With his glass filled, and glasses near the end of a swaggering nose,
A cigar or a cigarette – no one can remember which,
He took time and trouble and music to compose,
To celebrate and roast and savor the meaning we could suddenly hear.
Snow is horribly quiet.
So with glasses raised, Dear Freddy,
We owe you a great deal of all of this.
Snow won’t bury you—
We’ll bury the world:
With our drinking, our laughing, our singing, our teaching.
Toasting you and all lovers of life,
‘Till we, too, God willing one day fall,
So overcome with friends, adventure, ideas and song.
Fred, you were too soon taken from us.
But one can do no better, when it is time,
To leave behind a myriad of brilliant memories,
Respect and love that live on
In the thoughts of your dear friends.
“Every man’s death diminishes me,” and I am indeed diminished by Freddie’s passing. I knew him virtually all his life having first met him as an infant in Hong Kong in 1981, the last-born of the remarkable Hood brothers and the closest companion to his sister, my goddaughter. Words fail, but, as so many of you have remarked, memories last and Fred will live in mine.
James Fairbairn, Oxford, England
Though I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Fred well, I remember him fondly from the days in the fall of 2000 when I served as a producer for the mainstage production of The Madness of George III he directed at Harvard. He was such a warm and engaging person to work with, and it was truly a delight to be in his presence. My sincere condolences to Fred’s family and close friends.
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those, whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
Thou’rt slave to Fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy, or charms can make us sleep as well,
And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
John Donne – Holy Sonnet X
Freddy lit up any room he was in and always made me laugh hysterically, especially when he did the Bologna medley. I saw him in May at our Bologna reunion and he greeted me with a huge smile and a warm hug. He was a special part of our year there and I will sadly miss his charm, intellect and genuine kindness.
My deepest condolences and prayers to Freddy’s family and friends. I’m so very sorry for your loss.
Dearest Fred,
I thought if I waited some brilliant words would come to say goodbye to you but they never did. Each time i think of the reality of it all my heart clenches up and I just don’t want to believe it. But it is as real as the impact you had on all of our lives. I want to thank you for everything you gave on a daily basis just making people laugh and smile simply by being in the room. I hope you know what an incredible gift you gave to all of us. I miss you tremendously and don’t think that time will be able to take that away. I was blessed to know you the short time I did and I feel your spirit. Love you Freddy.
Dear Fred,
I find it hard believe that after such a short time I am forced to say goodbye. Although I doubt that if we had known each other for a life time that feeling would have changed.
It is a disbelief that you, the funniest, cleverest, and kindest of men are not here,
that supper, silly jokes and cigarettes can no longer be shared.
I will miss you with all my heart and an awful lot more besides. You make me smile as you make me cry, just remembering you as you are.
And I am so, so sorry that you are gone.
As Sophie’s mother I want to tell you all that I were so very happy that Sophie and Fred had fallen so deeply in love over the past few months. It was a joy to see Sophie’s happiness grow and grow with their love for each other. As for Fred, well we thought he was terrific. So brilliant, so funny and so so kind. For a man of such complex intellect his feelings seemed delightfully simple and straight forward and his love for Sophie was written all over his face.
To lose him has been a double blow. I had already come to love him and see him as one of ours – a future son-in-law without a doubt. I had looked forward to years of amusing and illuminating conversations with him. (A recent one had involved his vision for the sitting room of the flat I was doing up – shagpile carpets up the wall and a water feature in the fireplace.)
To see Sophie go from the height of happiness to the depths of misery in a single second was unbearbale. On Christmas eve we had been on a walk during which she was bounding along telling me all about the wonders of Fred and their mutual love and happiness. We were just back in the house getting ready to finalise the preparations for Christmas when the fatal phonecall came.
It is so wonderful that all of you – Fred’s friends and family are so determined to support Sophie through this tragedy. We – the Ramsays – would like to do all we can to support you too. You are welcome to visit us any time here in Scotland.We are undoubted members of the Fred Hood posthumous fanclub.
Dear Fred,
I was wondering this autumn when we would meet in Paris some day, have a drink together again or play cards with comrades. Since you died I keep reminding all these fantastics evenings in Edinburgh with you, which were progressively shading away. You were a friend and you were bright, it’s a pity we’re losing you. We won’t forget.
Dearest Freddie,
I miss you so, so much. You were a modest, charming, gentle, dapper, devilish-drinking, sangiovese-story-spinning, truthful, tuneful, Bolognese, English gent. You were an intellectual. You were in every way the most wonderful person.
We used to laugh at Dylan Thomas’ last words: “I’ve had fifty whiskeys and I think that’s the record”. Thomas died shortly after. We would then launch into the tunes and wishes and flight and fall and despair and big seas of Under Milk Wood, and although I must have listened to the recording fifty times over, you always knew it better than I. Somehow. What an incredible person you were. Life is a brittler, blander and more blighted place without you.
Sophie – it is no wonder Fred fell in love with you so. You are as beautiful, talented and charming as he. Saverio and I care for you enormously and we will be here to live and talk and love and laugh and reminisce with you.
One of my favourite stories was of Fred holed up at Bologna train station one wintry November morning. Alone he huddled around a plastic cup of coffee on platform four waiting for his train and, as the minutes slid by, he glanced doubtfully at his watch wondering if it too had been paralysed by the cold. Not long after, he heard an announcement: It treno che parte alle – NOVE MENO VENITCINQUE – da binario – QUATTRO – e’ gia’ partito da binario – SETTE. It made me laugh; it made Fred laugh (evenutally); it made all of us laugh. That was Fred.
My very deepest condolences to Fred’s parents, brothers and sister, Victoria. I won’t forget Fred. None of us will forget Fred.
Dearest Freddy,
I am so heartbroken to hear this news. You were there for me during one of the toughest times of my life with your warm heart and great advice. I will never forget you, you were one of life’s true originals, and a wonderful, loving friend.
EmilyX
Dear Fred,
I can’t believe your gone and I will never see you again…
Goodbye my friend,
Elisabetta
Darling Freds
If you can see emails where you are, you will of course not be surprised to see that I have only just found this site and figured it out, in fact I hope it is making you laugh (at me of course). I have been reading all the amazing notes from everyone and you were so consistent in your brilliance on every level, at every stage in your life, and in every different relationship you held. I have know Fred for most of my life as we always had Christmas in Lech and many visits in London. I have always and will always love you Fred, Lech and our lives will never be the same with out you, you were unique just magnificent and I think of you all the time, with a smile and a tear. People’s flaws are often forgotten in death, you simply didn’t have any to forget, there are however so many wonderful ones to remeber. The Morse’s thank you for all the laughter you gave us. It was way to soon to have to say goodbye, i love you love you love you. xxx
I am deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Fred. I have good memories of his warm-hearted good nature, lively and irrepressible spirit, and genuine good humor. The tributes here show how much he will be missed, and I send my condolences to his family and loved ones.
What to say? I never spent extended periods with Fred, except when I first got to know him on Elba for a few weeks in the summer of 2003. But he made a big impression on me, and I think of him very fondly. Every time we met I found I’d had more fun than I expected, and every time I came away wanting to see him much more often. He was always engaging, funny, intelligent. A bon vivant whose company was hugely enjoyable, and who was kind and genuine to boot – a rare combination. (written 27/12/08)
Fred, it may have been over 2 years ago, but I still think of you on occasion. It remains a wonder that you achieved more in 28 years on this goodly frame, and touched more people, than most could hope to in a hundred.
I salute you.