Fred P. Strassmann

Fred P. Strassmann of Naples, FL and Belmont, MA on 3/11/23 at 93. Beloved husband of Jean (Ferrovia) Strassmann. Father of Mark and his wife Cinnamon of Atlanta, GA, Franz of Hull, Alison and her husband John Borelli of Belmont, MA; and Miranda and her husband Robert Jones of Wayland, MA. Grandfather of Christina and her husband Christopher Iannacchino, Vincent and his wife Julia, John and Nicholas Borelli; Carolyn and her husband Logan Shim, Robert and Michael Jones; Aidan and Wyatt Strassmann. Widower of the late Joan Strassmann. Brother of Bettina von Boddien, Gero von Gersdorff, Christian von Gersdorff and the late Ernst von Gersdorff. Uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Fred was born in Berlin. At the age of nine, he immigrated to America with his adoptive parents, Georg and Ilse Strassmann. They traveled as German war refugees on the steamship SS Hamburg to New York City. The family later moved to Waltham, MA where Fred graduated from Waltham High School and then Emerson College. He earned his Masters of Social Work from Simmons College. By both temperament and training, Fred devoted himself to helping people. He worked as a clinical social worker for almost thirty years at the VA Hospital in Bedford.

Fred loved classical, jazz and big band music. He had an imposing album collection and an encyclopedic knowledge of his preferred genres. Musically gifted, Fred also played the piano by ear. In his 20s, he moonlighted as a jazz pianist at Scollay Square bars and local colleges.

As a reader, Fred was a Renaissance man. His personal library, thousands of books, swept from music to history, literature, art and architecture. 

When he was 66, in a wonderful later-life gift, he connected with his biological brothers and sister in Germany. Raised as an only child, he embraced being the oldest of five siblings. Over the next quarter-century, Fred made annual trips to Germany. He treasured his newfound family.

At 86, Fred remarried. Jean was the love of his life. They relocated to Naples, FL, but also enjoyed traveling abroad. At home, he savored family visits from Boston and beyond, sat by the pool, and of course, read avidly in a house resonant with Bach or Ella Fitzgerald. One of the countless ways we’ll miss him is hearing his impeccable taste in music for the moment.

Funeral services will be private. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Emerson College, the Michael J Fox Parkinson’s Foundation or the charity of your choice.

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