Freda "Freddie" K. Green's Obituary
Freda “Freddie” K. Green passed away August 22, 2016 at North Florida Regional Medical Center after a very short illness. Born September 26, 1926 in Kingston, New York, Freda was the only child of Harry and Bella Kaplow. She grew up on her parents’ chicken farm in upstate New York, and while World War II was going on, lived in Manhattan and the Bronx where she studied interior decorating at the Traphagen School of Design and business at Rider College in New Jersey.
Relatives introduced her to Alex Green, a young physicist, who had just returned from the war. They fell in love, married on June 2, 1946 and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Alex earned his doctorate. In Cincinnati, they had the first of their five children, Bruce, Deborah and Marcia. In 1953, the family moved to Tallahassee, FL where Alex took a position in Physics at Florida State University. Daughter Linda was born in 1955 and Freda’s parents moved to Florida to be closer to the family. In 1957, the family spent a year in Los Alamos, New Mexico where they began their love of camping. The family moved to La Jolla, CA in 1959 when Alex took a position for General Dynamics, and youngest daughter, Tamara, was born. In 1963, the family moved to Gainesville, where they have since made their home.
She focused on rearing her son and four daughters, including leading Brownie and Cub Scout troops, assisting in Alex’s career as a professor, hosting dinners for his professional contacts, and entertaining with their gourmet dinner group. Later, Freda worked as executive secretary at B’nai Israel congregation and volunteered at the Florida Museum of Natural History. She was honored as Sisterhood Woman of the Year in 1986 and enjoyed her involvement with the Engineering Wives Club through the University of Florida. Most recently, she was a resident of the Village.
She is predeceased by her daughter, Linda Green Proctor, and by her husband of 67 years, Alex Green. She is survived by her son Bruce Green (Christine) of Micanopy, FL, Deborah Green (David Marano) of Longwood, FL, Marcia Green (Alan Hill), and Tamara Gordon (Jeff) of Gainesville. She is also survived by six grandchildren; Naorah Lockhart (Dale Rimkunas), Akiba Green, Malika Green Barros (Orlando), Elisa Lockhart, Jesse Gordon and Jacob Gordon, two step-grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, August 26, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 404 North Main Street, with Rabbi David Kaiman and Rabbi Michael Joseph officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Three Rivers Legal Services Inc., 901 NW 8th Avenue, Suite D5, Gainesville, FL 32601 or Conservation Trust for Florida, 1731 NW 6th Street, Suite D, Gainesville, FL 32609.
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