Fred lost his battle with lymphoma.
On September 20, 2017, of Sicklerville, formerly of Havertown, PA. Age 70. Best friend of Kelli Barth (Dennis). Devoted father of Odin (Jennifer), Michael, Matthew and Nicole Franquet (Jeffrey). Loving grandfather of Jackson, Grace "Slickster", Madison and Rawlings. Brother of Linda Patterson (Steven). Uncle of Patrick (USMC) and April. Special thanks to Don Metzger, Rich Dougherty, Ed George, Frank Krieger, Ryan Fleck (My "KW son"), Jeff Saul and Frank Potter for their support in my long tender at Liberty. Shout out to Lou Inglese for his loyal support and friendship as my Kenworth DSM. Also survived by his forever and loyal friends Reagan Beck, Carl Gansky, Karl Gontkof, Chip Miller, Mike Scheider and Jerry Southern and his four-legged loyal lad Jeter. Fred was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, entering as an officer and retiring as a captain. He also played football for the Marines. Fred was a graduate of Widener University. He worked for Liberty Kenworth in Swedesboro. There will be a Viewing from 6 to 9 P.M. Monday eve and 11 A.M. to 12 noon Tuesday at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Service 12 noon Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment private. Family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Fred's memory to Marines Helping Marines, 512 Thornton Court, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579 or to Brooklawn Legion Softball, 503 Route 130, Brooklawn, NJ 08030. Family and friends may share memories at
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/philly/obituary.aspx?pid=186742689
Gerry Curtin
Fred and I were good friends. Like all freindships, we sometimes did not agree, but our friendship stayed strong because of what I always believed to have been his basically good heart. I feel a strong loss, much like with Chas Zoll's passing. Many of us have lost 2 good friends in those two good guys.Nick Settanni
Could not agree more with Gerry Curtin and his description of Fred .... though i never called him Ricky i could always call him my friend and was able to reconnect with him at a few of our reunions... via email and on Facebook... i will truly miss Fred because as we all know he was bigger than life and fun to be around .... losing Zoll... now Fred is difficult for me to understand .. ... .my advice is to enjoy all we can while we can !!Emerson Cannon, Jr
I called him Fred.....we sat next to each other in homeroom for 3 years. We played homeroom softball next to each other. He would pick me up for basketball practice over Xmas break each year as I would walk. He was always taking care! At the reunion he called out..."Heh shrimpy" and started to laugh as that is what he called me. He will be missed! Rest in piece!
William J McLaughlin
Fred was a good guy, a good athlete, and a hell of a Harley Guy. RIP, Fred.
Bill Marimow
During our years at Haverford, Fred and I had only a passing acquaintanceship, but after high school, we got to know each other playing racquetball at Riverside and the Franklin Plaza Hotel. On court, Fred was a gritty competitor -- powerful (as Nick Settanni can attest), mobile, determined and fair. Off the court, I enjoyed our talks about Haverford, our mutual friends and growing up.
Don Krotee
Fred was a footballer and I was a soccer player. I hardly knew him except to pass each other in the locker room and the hall. His passing is sad for me like anyone’s. For the competitor side of any athlete, like Fred and that determination that Bill spoke of, there is always a quiet side like the dance of the complicated most basic linebacker stunt. Even in football, there is finesse. I found this old recording of Jackson Browne (with David Lindley) visiting Philadelphia, where the musician had a strong connection (like us all) and if you can get past the advertisement, the song is most certainly for a distant friend who has passed. And, I agree with Nick’s advise, spend some of it now because you can't take it with you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrgnRvqPopI
Craig McGarvey
Fred was a close friend throughout high school and beyond. We played lacrosse together and shared many an adventure on weekends and, in summers, in Ocean City. During the summer of '66, after freshman year of college, Fred and I joined Mike Schneider in Mobile, Alabama, where Mike's dad had gotten us all jobs at the Scott Paper plant. Memorable. On Friday nights we drove to Biloxi, Mississippi, on the Gulf Coast; the drinking age was 18, and our favorite hangouts were Little John's and The Peppermint Lounge. I'll let Mike tell the story of the infamous night at The Peppermint Lounge, when I, the only non Haverford Football Tackle of the three, was the last man standing. Then there was our trip to New Orleans, when the dancers "recognized us from the stage." Now, anyone who hung with Fred Brutsche knows that, on a night out with him, things were not always going to go smoothly. It was part of the attraction of hanging with Fred, and we all lived through it all, if, sometimes, only barely. RIP to a good guy and unique individual and fine friend. RIP, Brutsche.
James Kanze
Big heart in a big guy. RIP