Frederick Stigers

Frederick William Jackson Stigers, 68, passed away in peace on June 22, 2017 in Columbus after a short battle with cancer. He was born on July 27, 1948, in Frankfort, Mich., to D. Jean (Nave) Stigers and the late Frederick William Jackson. Fred spent his early years in Berea, Ohio, where he developed a lifelong love of classical music attending Cleveland Orchestra Kinderconcerts conducted by George Szell. After moving to Dayton, he went to Patterson Cooperative H.S. and studied violin with Conductor Paul Katz. He played in the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and subbed in the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. While at Wright State University, he was a reporter for the Franklin Chronicle and an advertising copywriter for Dancer Fitzgerald Sample. After graduating with a degree in English, he earned his Ph.D. from Brown University in ancient Germanic languages and literatures (Old English, Old High German, Old Norse). During and after graduate school, he was a copywriter for several industrial agencies in Providence, R.I., and Boston, receiving awards for his work from the Ad Club of Boston. He co-wrote Principles of Centrifugal Rubber Mold Casting, which was translated into several languages. Soon after moving to Clinton Twp. near Columbus, Fred was elected twp. trustee, a position he held for 12 years. He was especially proud of his role in improving roads and infrastructure, obtaining grants, and turning a weed-ridden triangle into a popular park. An avid bird watcher and amateur naturalist, he kept journals of his many hikes at Battelle Darby Metro Park, along Lake Erie, and in Kearney, Neb. Fred leaves behind his beloved wife of 31 years, Nancy (Bedard), daughter Wendy, son-in-law Jon Colvin, and three grandchildren, Charlotte, Emma, and Henry, of Great Britain. He is also survived by his mother D. Jean Stigers, brothers Keith (Barbara) and Loyd (Kyung Mee), sister Laura Lee, nephew Mu Young Kim, and nieces Tara and Kate Melvin. He is preceded in death by his father, step-father Ralph Stigers, and brother Joseph. A private service will be held to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Metro Parks at http://metroparksfriends.wildapricot.org. His guest book may be found at www.shaw-davis.com/listings.