Frederick E. Heider

Frederick E. Heider
September 22, 1935 - April 9, 2019

Fred Heider, 83, of Tampa , FL passed peacefully on April 9, 2019 as a result of a long and valiant battle with multiple illnesses.   He was born to Fred and Evelyn Heider of Denville, NJ. Fred attended Denville Elementary School, was a graduate of Morris Hills High School and William Paterson College, where he graduated Cum Laude and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education.

Fred worked for more than 30 years as a supervisor for the Morris County Mosquito Commission.  He lived in Rainbow Lakes, a small lake community in northern New Jersey, where he was Club President for 8 years.  He was heavily involved in community activities and received “Man of the Year Award” in 1984.  He also served as a volunteer fireman for more than 15 years, and coached many sports in the Hub Lakes League.  He led his Women’s Softball team to 44 consecutive wins over several seasons.

He was an avid fisherman (and really good at it) and spent every fall and spring in his beloved Cape May Point, where he built a house in 1984.  As his health declined, he could no longer travel there and was forced to sell the house in 2017.  He missed it dearly.

He moved to Tampa, Florida in 1985, where he owned and operated a restaurant.  He was active in many community activities:  St. Patrick’s Bingo (he served as Bingo Chairman from 1988 -1989).  He also volunteered at Sickles High School, and was a player/coach for a men’s competitive softball league from 1995 to 1997.   
 

After selling the restaurant, he then retired and moved to Westchase in 1997, where he lived for 22 more years.

Fred leaves behind a loving family - he was an awesome husband, father, grandfather and just six weeks ago became a great grandfather.  He is survived by his loving wife, M. Carol Heider - to whom he was married for 64 years and would have celebrated his 65th anniversary on May 15, 2019.  He had two daughters and one son, Susan, Cathleen, and Chris Heider. Susan married Robert Henry and they have two daughters, Ronnie and Samantha.  Cathleen married Thomas Fahrman and had one daughter, Danielle, and one son, Michael.  Danielle married Brian Buchert and they have one daughter, Hannah Charlotte, born six weeks before Fred’s death.  Chris married Cheryl Snyder and they had one son, CJ.  He is also survived by four nephews and one niece: Tom Mayes, Ted Heider, Jr., Robert Heider, William Heider, and Debra Miehl. 

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, April 14th, 2019 at 4:00 PM with a visitation prior from 2:00pm-4:00pm at Sorensen Funeral Home, 3180 30th Ave North, Saint Petersburg, FL 33713.  Please join us for dinner at Carrabba's at 1951 4th St N., St. Pete at 4:30. All are invited to come and pay their respects to an extraordinary man. 

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