Fredric London, July 29, 2011

Published in GreenwichTime on Aug. 2, 2011

FREDRIC SCOTT LONDON passed away at his home Friday, July 29. Fred was born August 19, 1947 in Bay City, Michigan. He graduated from Phillips Academy at Andover, Yale University, and the Rutgers School of Law. He began his career at the law firm Kirlin, Campbell, and Keating and eventually served for many years as General Counsel of OMI, a shipping firm in New York and Stamford. As a boy, Fred acquired the nickname “Fearless” – a term that described his demeanor on the tennis court. His fearless good-nature was a characteristic that remained with him and, along with a sense of fair play and extraordinary kindness, graced all his endeavors. He was a member of the Milbrook Club and a member and former President of the Yale Club of New York City. Fred is survived by his wife Louise, his son Scott and daughter Laura; his mother Sybil; brothers John and Michael; a niece, Ashley London; and four nephews, Matthew Terrill, and Colin, Travis, and Graham Histed. A Memorial Service will be held August 6, 2011 at One O’clock at the Dwight Memorial Chapel on the campus of Yale University.

Class Notes: Louise London has sent me this memorial for her husband Fred London, written by Gary Fauth, Steve Herseth, and Don Weigandt: “Our dear classmate and friend of many members of 1969, Frederic London, passed away on July 29, 2011, after a long illness that he endured with extraordinary grace. Fred leaves his wife Louise and adult children Scott and Laura. At Yale, Fred was known to all the residents of Lawrance, his freshman dorm, and Calhoun, his residential college, as a friendly midwesterner, who had arrived at Yale through Phillips Andover Academy. A lifelong student of history, he majored in the subject at Yale, and had a prodigious memory for facts and theories. He minored, with many of his friends in Calhoun, in bridge and hearts. After graduation, Fred found his way to law practice via Rutgers Law School, specializing in maritime law with Kirlin Campbell & Keating for several years. He then left private practice to become in-house counsel with a shipping firm, ultimately rising to the office of general counsel of OMI, an oil shipping firm. He retired when the firm was sold in 2007 in a transaction that required his able guidance. In the interim, Fred became one of the world’s most knowledgeable shipping attorneys, handling numerous purchases and sales of very large ships around the world and generally guiding his firm through the international shipping world. On the side, he assumed the presidency of the Yale Club of New York for a period, guiding it through very challenging times during the 1990s, from which the club emerged more financially stable. He also continued his lifelong pursuit of tennis perfection, both in regular games at Forest Hills, and at clubs in Greenwich. He also took up golf, and while cursed with the ‘yips’ for years, played a steady game, enjoying travels to play in the US and Europe.

“Fred was an eminent counselor, accomplished tennis player, aspiring golfer, great friend, and wonderful family man. And, despite his terrible illness the last few years, he never lost his gentle character or kindness toward others. He was devoted to his family, colleagues, and friends, and to Yale. Ever the optimist, he would tell you that he always had the best seats for The Game—even on the icy rooftop at Harvard—and he began each football season with an analysis of how the Yale team could win the Ivy championship. He introduced many of his friends’ kids to college football at the Bowl, and, with Louise, was always a wonderful host. Fred loved to travel with Louise, and his business gave him opportunities to indulge that love. It was always a treat for his friends when he would drop in to visit on his way home from one of his many international destinations.

“At the memorial service, held in Dwight Chapel on the Old Campus, the site of his wedding to Louise many years ago, there was a tremendous outpouring for Fred. Louise insisted that we celebrate his life rather than grieve his passing. And the service ably accomplished that. There were words from his roommates, work colleagues, and tennis buddies. All gave us the chance to laugh again at the memories, reminding us of the good times, at Yale, Greenwich, on the courts, and on his many travels around the country. Fred relished our days in New Haven so long ago and unlike most of us found a way to live close enough to stay connected to Yale (at least to Yale football!), by settling in Greenwich. It’s indeed sad that we could not have enjoyed his company longer. But, he lived life well and made those around him better—something we should all strive to emulate.”

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