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CLARKSVILLE – Fredda J. (Hoffman) Cole, 71, of Clarksville and Stow, Mass., passed away on Wednesday morning, Jan. 31, 2018, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook after a very brief illness.
She was born in Quincy, Mass., on Jan. 6, 1947, the daughter of the late William and Laura (Rodman) Hoffman. She attended schools locally, and graduated from North Quincy High School with the Class of 1964. She then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in 1968.
Her command of mathematics and computer technology served her well her entire career, which was spent as an engineer and technician in the world of international finance and banking. Fredda worked as systems specialist setting up the information technology for many leading firms in international banking, eventually retiring from the Swift Company based in Brussells, Belgium.
Always a bit of a daredevil, she was an avid motorcycle enthusiast, and remains the holder of the “World Land Speed Record” on her Russian Ural motorcycle (complete with sidecar), set in Utah in 2000 on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Fredda also enjoyed snowmobiling and fishing. She was a lover of music, especially at live venues, and she loved building and living in her new home on the shores of Lake Francis in Clarksville. She also loved to volunteer and became active in charity work wherever she was.
Fredda leaves behind her beloved husband, James ‘Russ’ Fitch of Clarksville; two siblings, Donald Hoffman and wife Valeria of Greenville, NC, and Marjorie Serrano of Randolph, Mass.; two step-daughters, Allison Burrows and husband Gerry of Northbrook, Ill., and Shaina Cormier and husband Joseph of Cherry Valley, Mass.; her sister-in-law, Mary Lyons of Westwood, Mass.; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her first husband, Francis X. Cole in 2002.
A Celebration of Fredda’s Life will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, from Noon to 4 p.m. at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Mass.
Expressions of sympathy in memory of Ms. Cole may be made to the Tillotson Center, 14 Carriage Lane, Colebrook, NH 03576; or to the Great North Woods Committee for the Arts, P.O. Box 302, Colebrook, NH 03576; or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Greater Illinois Chapter, 150 N. Michigan Ave. #1550, Chicago, IL 60601, or online at www.cff.org.
Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com.
Funeral arrangements in NH are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.
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Peter F. Bono
I remember Freda as a sweet, cheerful, and intelligent classmate who always brightened my day. I'm so sorry she is gone, and much too soon. My sincere condolences to her family. Pete Bono
Virginia Garland
Wow! What a loss with the passing of Fredda Hoffman Cole. I am so super proud to have had this incredible, brilliant, funny, trailblazing woman as our classmate! It’s like speaking of a strong woman in the 21st-century when we hear of her accomplishments: graduating from MIT, winning an International and very prestigious motorcycle race, surviving the death of her spouse and then finding happiness in a late in life marriage, and being a dear friend to those who knew her.
I think of her as a petite elfin woman with hugely understated power and joy. When we met up at the 50th reunion, and I complimented her on her academic and personal and athletic accomplishments, she just giggled and grinned, that’s the Fredda who is in all the hearts of our classmates. I know that our NQHS class of 1964 is so very very saddened by this loss.
Sheila Kelley (Killourhy)
A life of serious accomplishment. And serious fun. A great combination. I am so sorry that Fredda did not have many more years of the same...
Meredith Mullen (Amyx)
Fredda and I had many classes together over the six years that we tracked the same course schedule, from seventh grade at Central through senior year at North. I'd say she was the most brilliant young woman in the NQHS class of 1964, and her career seems to have borne that out.
We were friends as well as classmates. Fredda had a friendly smile and a personal warmth that made it easy to be friends with her. Her parents were very welcoming and provided hospitality for many get-togethers at their home over those years. I last saw Fredda in 2001, when a few former classmates got together in Quincy. She was so little changed that for a moment it seemed as if no time had passed.
I feel Fredda's loss very personally and extend my condolences to her family.
Marie E. Hedin (Pereto-Hedin)
I have been slow to post anything in memory of Fredda. I have been in shock since her sister Marjorie reached out to me several days ago. The Hoffmans have been a part of my life since I first met Fredda in 7th grade. We were Mutt and Jeff throughout junior and senior high school. Although we did not see each other very often after high school, we did reconnect at major life events. She definitely had all the qualities described in the posts of others. Too young, too vital to be gone from us.
Sarah M. Whittum (Parker)
I am truly saddened to hear of Fredda’s passing. You all have expressed our loss so well. My sincere condolences to her family and close friends.
Jonathan R. Kurtis
She was a very sweet and very smart classmate with an amazing (but not surprising) life of accomplishments. We hadn't been close over the last 60 years...we met in junior high school ...but I miss her..