Obituary of Donald Davidson Fredrickson III

His life was big, brilliant, boundless and beautiful. Big in its scope, from birth in California to upbringing in New Jersey, with a wide range of scholastic (as well as decidedly non-academic forays) through Ohio State University, Outward Bound in Maine, and in California at the Maritime Academy in Vallejo, and with degrees achieved at Cabrillo College and San Jose State University. Brilliant in his endeavors, which between high school and college included work in heavy equipment and as a maintenance worker in New Jersey, and delivering landscape materials in the Monterey Bay area. Car and retail clothing sales, customer service, grocery cart corral construction, metal working, and Capitola nightclub bouncer were among the other jobs that made their way onto his resume. His introduction to high tech came through Digimedics, a Santa Cruz medical computer company. He delved into photography both artistically and in the commercial realm, working for the Homes & Land and Coastal Homes Magazines.. His lifelong learning and development and bold business ventures continued through the co-founding of Got.Net, a Santa Cruz Internet company which he piloted through 17 years of the ups-and-downs of high tech. His most recent tenure was as a Data Center Manager at UC Santa Cruz. Boundless he was in his courage and kindness, and he taught us how inexorably those two traits are linked. His courage was eloquently expressed through his recovery from addiction and later as he journeyed with cancer. Boundless is the gratitude from all who love him for the extraordinary care provided through Stanford University Medical Center, led by Dr. Colevas and Dr. Hwang. He left us in the morning on April 19th, with his Mom and Jennifer by his side. His departure, typical of his life, was dignified, gentle, and courageous. Beautiful in the many lives he touched in such profound ways ~ as a son, as a brother, as a soul mate, as a father/father figure, as a mentor, as an inspiration, as a confidant, as a co-conspirator, as a playmate, as a teacher, and as a dear, dear friend. We honor and celebrate him in all the ways he taught and touched us. Don is survived by his mother, Margaret Lynn Fouts Fredrickson of Chester, New Jersey; father Donald of Pacific Grove, California; as well as life partner Jennifer Pitino and son Daniel George both of Capitola, California. In addition to a magnificent extended family and a brilliant and extensive network of friends, Don also leaves two sisters and two brothers: Kristi of Salinas, California; Robert of Chamblee, Georgia; David of Flower Mound, Texas; and Nancy of Center Sandwich, New Hampshire. His wishes will be honored by having his ashes placed in the Memorial Redwood Grove at Mountain Home Ranch in Calistoga. Details of this memorial service will come. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice of Santa Cruz County and to CaringBridge.org would be meaningful tributes.