Will you pass the Fred test? Fred Wasserman is a father and husband. An artist by trade, Fred spent his career in advertising and printing before retiring in 1991. Late that year, Fred and his wife, Charlotte moved to Boynton Beach, Florida where they enjoy the "retiree things" like golf, bridge, and going out to dinner. Fred always made time for his three kids, Lori, Steve and Mark . Whether it was building a doll house big enough for a 6-foot man or having a baseball catch, he consistently let his kids know they could count on him. As his kids got older, Fred let them make their own mistakes, trusting them to the point of never enforcing a curfew - or so they thought! Fred was such a light sleeper that no matter what hour the kids came home, he knew exactly what time it was. If it was too late, they would hear about it the next day. Fred was always the voice of reason and a calming influence while his kids were being faced with the big decisions of growing up. Like what college to go to or buying their first car. When the kids were learning to drive, the ultimate compliment was whenever Fred fell asleep - then you knew you "passed" the Fred test. In 1954, Fred and Charlotte got married. While their marriage has had some typical anxious moments over the years, they continue to love and respect each other as if they were still newlyweds. In December 2003, Fred’s family, all 14 of them went on a Caribbean cruise to celebrate Fred and Charlotte’s 50th anniversary. Fred insists that part of the reason why their marriage has lasted as long as it has is that he is a "controlled husband". That is, Fred gets along just fine as long as he does whatever Charlotte wants him to do. While there might be some truth to that, in his typical understated way, Fred sells himself a bit short. Charlotte may control the checkbook and the social calendar, but Fred is allowed to make some tough decisions - like what colors he uses for one of his many paintings that decorate their house or the homes of their friends. In 2001, Fred underwent a quadruple heart bypass surgery. Afterward, there were complications but in time he managed a full recovery. He is now back to playing golf once a week with his Florida buddies. Fred is a grandfather to six, two of whom live nearby while the remaining four live in the cold Northeast. Fred is always interested in what his grand kids are doing and keeps in touch with all of them regularly. One final thing you should know about Fred - his parents decided that the name Fred was so good, they didn’t need to give him a middle name. He's just Fred. In fact, his sister Ruth liked the name so much, she named her youngest son Fred. Two Freds in one family! Thanks to Fred’s kids, Lori Wasserman Karbel, Steve Wasserman and Mark Wasserman for telling us about this most extraordinary father and Fred. Happy Father's Day Fred!! Back to Featured Freds