Fred Pfeil dies
This may be of somewhat limited interest, but the excellent Fred Pfeil, probably most widely known as the author of the Verso book White Guys, died of melanoma a copuld of hours ago. I got to know him through the Marxist Literary Group, and found him an extremely smart, likeable person who took his politics really seriously (teaching in prison, agitating against imperial war). Extremely sad news.
Doug
December 2nd, 2005 at 7:25 pm
Fred was my advisor for 4 years in college. What an amazing guy. I was really shocked and saddened to find out he had passed away. I have never met a person more passionate about his views than Fred. Thanks for posting this info.
December 2nd, 2005 at 9:45 pm
I had the wonderful experience of partaking in three classes taught by Fred Pfeil while I was at Trinity. I enjoyed and admired him so much as person and as a professor. Both my writing and my thought process benefitted tremendously from his insights, advice, and direction. I loved Fred because he was dedicated to fighting ‘the good fight’ and he made it sexy.
I was delighted when I heard, a couple years ago, that Fred had fallen in love with Elly Findly, who taught the most delightful class I experienced while at Trinity. Through Elly, I discovered the serenity and grace of Buddhism, something I would never have done on my own. It was easy to understand how they could fall in love. I had already melded their fields of expertise and passion within my own psyche and made compassionate unattached activism my life’s philosophy.
I had no idea Fred was sick. I had not spoken or written him in the seven years since I graduated from Trinity though I thought of him often. Recently, ironically, I had been in the process of drafting him an email letter about my new life and renewed committment to social change as an inaugural class member at the Clinton School of Public Service. I wouldn’t be where I am today if Fred had not been part of the journey. I only wish I had told him the impact he has made on my life while he was alive.
December 3rd, 2005 at 10:35 am
I’m a friend and colleague of Fred’s at Trinity College, in Hartford, Connecticut. There will be a memorial service for Fred on Wednesday, December 7th, and we are collecting photos for a presentation at the end of the service. Please send this message to anyone that you know who might have photos of Fred. Digital photos or scanned images should be sent to: Luis.Figueroa@trincoll.edu — Thanks!
December 3rd, 2005 at 11:20 pm
Fred Pfeil was one of my favorite profs. at Trinity College. He taught a fabulous class called Overlords and Undertones where we got to explore the relationship of the oppressor and the oppressed through filem. Fred stood by his convictions and connected so well with the students. I will miss him deeply.
January 26th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Fred Pfeil was one of my best friends. He was my roommate at Amherst for two years, a pal in Palo Alto and Corvallis. I stayed at his family’s cabin in Port Allegany. We are both Pennsylvania boys and that was just one of our many bonds.
I just googled his name and see that he has died and my eyes are streaming from tears. This totally sucks.
He was such a good, good, kind and loving man. I love him so much. I want his wonderful wife, who visited us here in Oregon just a little while ago, to know that.
I want our common Amherst friends to get in touch with me. I don’t know where you all are.
Dave Crimp
38934 Marys River Road, Blodgett OR 97326
541/456-2045 clear@pioneer.net
March 6th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
I met Fred when we were both in the sixth grade. We literally ran into each other at the Public Library. We were both after the same newly released book, Thor Hyerdahl’s “Voyage of the Kon Tiki”. He attended the “other grade school” in our small PA. town. We became friends in Jr High and stayed close through High School. I lost touch over the years although I followed him through his writing.
I’m totally shocked to learn of his death.
Fred was one of a kind.