Fred Steven Edwards

Fred Steven Edwards left us unexpectedly on April 2nd. He dedicated himself to improving the lives of family, friends, students, and strangers through love, generosity, humor, conversation, education, and service. Fred was a hat collector, a champion of the underdog, a known orator, a desert rat, a fan of a good cruller, and a many-layered man.

Fred was born to Fred & Afton Edwards in Salt Lake City in 1952, one of 6 children. He attended East High and the University of Utah, then spent his career teaching history and caring for alternative students that so-called regular schools didn’t want. Throughout his life Fred both participated in and was a fan of a variety of sports. He was in Little League, went fishing with his dad, played tennis at Liberty Park, skied the Wasatch, ran marathons, and even played a bit of cricket. Fred was a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan and was SO pleased when they finally won the World Series in 2010. And then won AGAIN in 2012…AND 2014! The games he got to see at Candlestick and AT&T Park were a couple of the best-days-ever for him. He kept tabs on the Utah Jazz, the Utes, the NHL, and the PGA, too.

Music was a large part of Fred’s life, too. He had fond memories of listening to his father play the trumpet, which he later played himself. Fred also played banjo and guitar, jamming with friends at Geppetto’s here and there. There was always music close at hand in the house, in the car, and in his head. He loved to listen to a variety of genres: classic rock, jazz, blues, zydeco, folk, and world music.

Fred lived in Salt Lake City his whole life, but traveled near and far, too. He visited the desert canyon lands of Southern Utah multiple times a year. He rode a ferry boat to Alaska, walked miles of streets in San Francisco, partied in New Orleans, took in some history in Washington DC, soaked up sun in Cancun, and took his sweetheart to Paris. There was many a road trip or adventure in between. Here at home, Fred took great pride in being a volunteer at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Sundance Film Festival (2019 marked his 10th year), speed skating events at the Olympic Oval, and more.

Fred’s wife Corinne and daughter Sara benefited from his love, goofiness, support, wisdom, and encouragement for 38 years. Fred delighted in being a G’Pa to his granddaughter Abigail for the last 6 years. Our hearts are broken from losing our loving, sentimental sweetheart, papa, G’pa, dedicated friend, and brother. Freddie’s heart failed him, but it NEVER failed us.

A celebration of Fred’s life will take place Wednesday, April 10, 2019 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the clubhouse of the Shadybrook condo community (approximately 3350 South 700 East; please only park in designated parking spots).

In lieu of flowers, please perform an act of kindness and cheer for the San Francisco Giants this year.