Message from Veronica Pye at SAIS Bologna
Most of you will have heard about Fred’s tragic and untimely death. We are planning to have a Memorial for him here at the Center. Although it is not an official part of this year’s alumni weekend, we decided
to hold it at the same time so that those of you who are returning would have the opportunity to attend.
Because it is not part of alumni weekend there is no registration fee involved to attend the Memorial. So if you are in striking distance of Bologna, do try and come, even if you are not registering for alumni
weekend.
The Memorial will take the form of a Quaker meeting, not because Fred was a Quaker but because it will give everyone who wants the chance to get up and say a few words about their special recollections of Fred
and his time at Bologna. The meeting will be moderated by Thomas Row and Adrian Lyttelton. There will be a book for signatures which will be sent to the family.
Celebrating a Life Well Lived
From Julie, Bologna Class of 2002:
A gathering of Bolognesi is always a wonderful thing. Whether it be at a wedding of a former classmates, a five year reunion or a night out at a local watering hole, it always reminds us what amazing friendships we created during our year in Bologna.
Not all of our gatherings have been light-hearted though. Freddie’s passing last December brought us together too soon and too unexpectedly to grapple with the loss of a life so grand and so impactful. However, even in the midst of our grieving we managed to find comfort and some solace among our Bolognesi friends who had all been touched by Fred’s presence and life in the few years that we knew him.
On April 4th, a group of us in Washington DC gathered to memorialize and celebrate the life of our dear friend. As we all arrived at the house, it could have been like any other party – everyone climbing the stairs with a bottle of wine and a smile, greeting one another with a double kiss and asking for each other’s update on life. We talked and ate and laughed and it wasn’t until someone began to motion us into the living room that the reality returned that this was not any ordinary party, but a goodbye to a beloved classmate.
A slideshow had been put together accompanied by a musical tribute that somehow perfectly spoke to the beauty of Freddie’s life and the nostalgia we all felt for the unforgettable memories that he had created for us over the last 7 years. Every picture perfectly captured who Freddie was – thoughtful, amusing, clever, creative, fun, adventurous and a good friend. We then took some moments to share our thoughts and memories and what came up over and over again was the breath of fresh air that Freddie brought into every room and every situation, the kindness and generosity that he extended to everyone around him, his clever wit and his general love of life, making it all the more difficult to accept that he was gone.
We are now left with precious memories but also difficult questions. Questions about how such vivacity can die so young, how such passion could have been silenced and how we now attempt to find the balance between appreciating the gift we were all given just by knowing him and facing up to the reality of living without him.
To celebrate a life that was well lived is easy, but when it was a life that was taken too soon and so suddenly, the celebration becomes bitter sweet as we draw from the memories and the lessons that we gained but also recognize that the loss feels greater than any of these things. For now, we must just feel grateful for all that he contributed to our lives and that we have each other to share our grief, memories, thoughts and love for our dear friend. Freddie was an example of a life well-lived and we are forever touched by the years we had with him.
Bologna e la famiglia mi mancano!
Please see the latest copy of the Bologna Center’s Rivista Magazine, where Professor Eric Jones’ article really captures Fred’s essence.
APR 4 Gathering in DC
Jan 10, 2009 Photos
So many friends came together to remember Fred, celebrate his life and mourn his passing. A group of the Bolognesi class of 2003 went to lunch after the funeral mass, and later went to an Italian osteria, a place Fred would have loved.
Click here to see a slideshow of Dara’s photos from lunch after Fred’s funeral service.
Funeral Service on Jan 10, 2009
A funeral mass was held for Fred at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer in New York City (East 66th Street and Lexington Avenue) at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, 10 January.
The Hood Family then held a private reception and burial in Connecticut.
