Fred C. Feiten
November 28, 1916 – May 25, 2011
Fred C. Feiten passed away on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at the age of 94. Fred is survived by his son Fritz Feiten of Bainbridge Island, daughter Kathi Woodruff and her husband Tom of San Rafael, CA, grandchildren Rebecca and Carl, Tom and Alex, and many Bainbridge Island friends. Fred’s wonderful sense of humor, keen intellect, and generosity will be missed by all, and his appreciation for good scotch and ability spin a yarn will be well remembered.
Born in Winona, MN, Fred was raised in Minneapolis, and vividly recalled his boyhood delivering the Minneapolis Tribune on winter mornings. Fred joined the Navy in 1942 and attended flight school at Pensacola, Fl. After receiving his wings he shipped out to the Pacific theater where he joined VP-52, one of the famous PBY Catalina “Black Cat” squadrons. The Black Cat squadrons transformed their big, slow Catalina flying boats into surprisingly effective convoy raiders. Operating at night they attacked and sank Japanese merchant and war ships, including a heavy cruiser. Fred continued to fly for the Navy as a reservist until the late 1950s, when he retired as a Lt. Commander.
For more than 25 years Fred was a highly regarded lobbyist in the California legislature, representing a variety of clients. His dream, however, was to retire and sail to the South Pacific. Fred never made it back to the South Pacific on a sailboat, instead falling in love with the Northwest and Alaska, where he cruised on a progression of sail boats for nearly twenty years. Ever the optimist, Fred started construction on his last boat at age 73 and continued single-handing her to Alaska each summer until his mid 80s. Fred spent the last three years of his life on Bainbridge with his son, Fritz, and grandson Carl.
Fred will be buried this fall at Arlington National Cemetery, where he will join many of his fellow VP-52 squadron members.
Please sign the online Guest Book for the family at: www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.
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