Frederick William Rukowicz
Frederick (Fred) William Rukowicz passed away on December 15, 2014 at the age of 70. Fred loved vintage cars, old rail stations, beautiful women, Tiparillos, kielbasy sandwiches, the History Channel and a good lager. Not necessarily in that order. He loathed talking on the phone, ‘the man’, foul language and condiments of any sort. Not necessarily in that order.
Originally from Jersey City, New Jersey, Fred was an airplane mechanic by trade and tinkerer by compulsion. He served in the United States Air Force before beginning a 32-year career with Delta Airlines, a tenure during which he saved many an air flight departing from EWR with his signature MacGyver-type fixes.
If Fred wasn’t otherwise dodging sandbars on his way to Captiva or fiddling under the hood of a car, he could be found putzing on his lanai, clad only in what God gave him, singing along with the chorus to classic 70s rock songs. The Allman Brothers ‘Sweet Melissa’ and Bob Seger’s ‘Mainstreet’ were personal favs.
He was a genuine, good guy, known to give the shirt off his back to friends in need. Fred enjoyed many a night holding court at Froggies as he threw a few back, or at Ragged Ass, listening to live music and watching the harleys come and go.
Fred adored the ladies. And they adored him. But one special woman grabbed his heart and held it tightly for 46 years. He leaves behind the love of his life, Sandy, and the fruits of their passion, their children Louis, Roxanne and Stephen, and grandson, Stephen Jr.
A grand Gulf sendoff is in the works for summer 2015. In the meantime, the family graciously requests that you pop open your favorite brew and raise a glass in Fred’s honor.