In remembrance of David A. Fredrickson (1927 – 2012)

Michael Moratto wrote recently: “Dave was surely one of the finest human beings ever to grace the realm of California archaeology.” We second wholeheartedly, but would drop the qualifier “archaeology.” Dave touched the lives of people in many realms of California life. As Michael Stephens wrote in the Press Democrat: “Like everyone else my age, I've known thousands of people over the years. Dave and Vera Mae Fredrickson occupied two spots in my all-time Top Ten Great Human Beings. . . .”

We invite all of these friends, family, and fictive kin to submit a memory or two for posting on this page.

Email Notification to SSU employees 29 August 2012, which included comments by Adrian Praetzellis, ASC Director:
“Dave Fredrickson was a gentle and kindly man who rarely criticized others. He led by the example of his own commitment to research, his student family, and his music. . . .” 
 Read the complete SSU Notification

Memorial Service Program courtesy of Fredrickson family:
 Dave Fredrickson Memorial Program

Gregory White, Chico:
“Part of what made Dave important was the gravity he produced . . . . This is how Dave made Sonoma State the central hub of California archaeology for 20 years. . . .” 
 Read more from G. White

Mary Praetzellis, ASC:
“I’ve always imagined that Dave and Vera-Mae Fredrickson would host my memorial in their home on Parker Street in Berkeley. . . .” 
 Read more from M. Praetzellis

Jean Moss, Berkeley: 
“I first met Dave in the 50’s when living in Saranap, now part of Walnut Creek. A neighbor’s teenaged daughter mentioned babysitting for a very odd couple; she wore no makeup, he ‘had hair on his face’. . . .” 
 Read more from J. Moss

Joel Hagen, Oakdale: 
“That is sad news. It is so interesting to me how news of a person's death can trigger such sweet and crystal clear memories. . . .” 
 Read more from J. Hagen

Lynn Deetz, El Cerrito:
“I came to Sonoma State in the mid 70’s to study archaeology based on the recommendation of . . . Richard Cowan. . . . Richard said Dave was a wonderful teacher. . . .” 
 Read more from L. Deetz

Tony Apolloni, Sonoma State University: 
“While I did not know Dave very well, I had great respect for him. . . .” 
 Read more from T. Apolloni

Roger Werner, Stockton: 
“I walked onto the Sonoma State College campus the second week of January 1976. . . .” 
 Read more from R. Werner

Sunshine Psota, Sebastopol: 
“With all Dave did between archaeology, music, and having a family, it is amazing that he still had the creative juices to quilt. . . .” 
 Read more from S. Psota

Seana Gause, Sonoma County Transportation Authority:
“For me, there is almost no distinction between the musical Dave and the archaeological Dave. They are one in the same. . . .” 
 Read more from S. Gause

Ben Elliot, Staff Archaeologist, URS Corporation:
“I’ll never forget witnessing a small moment between Dave and Vera Mae at an SCA conference in the early 2000s. . . .” 
 Read more from B. Elliot

Polly Quick, ICF International:
“I don’t know who first got me to their [Dave and Vera-Mae’s] house—I came as an interloper from Harvard, who was talked into a California archaeology PhD thesis by Tom Jackson and Mike Moratto. . . .” 
 Read more from P. Quick

Robert Orlins, Woodland:
“I’ve recently been asked about when I met Dave and Vera Mae and if I knew any of the circumstances that led to Dave's return to archaeology. . . .” 
 Read more from R. Orlins

Sandra Hollimon, Santa Rosa Junior College:
“I had the privilege of living at 1940 Parker Street with Dave and Vera-Mae in 1991. I realize now that having a key to this house was like having a key to the wonderful world and wonderful people in California archaeology. . . .” 
 Read more from S. Hollimon

Marley Brown, College of William and Mary, Virginia:
“There are so many contexts that one could chose in which to remember Dave Frederickson – the classroom, the field, the Parker Street party, the music in a hotel room at an SCA meeting.  I’ve chosen the front passenger seat of his old GMC van. . . .” 
 Read more from M. Brown

E. Breck Parkman, Senior Archaeologist, California State Parks:
“I was just sitting here in the late night, thinking about how I met Dave Fredrickson, and it caused me to laugh out loud. . . .” 
 Read more from B. Parkman