Fredrick's Christmas List - 1973

Source:  Digital Photo Collection privately owned by J. Tracy

Fredrick Jamison Padget
Christmas 1973

This 1973 photo of my son reviewing his Christmas list with Santa causes me to smile. He was barely old enough to write, but he had carefully made that list, and as you can see in the photo, was seriously discussing it with jolly old Santa Claus. The photo also brings tears to my eyes, because Fredrick passed away on September 14th of this year. Only 43 years old, he was much too young to die.  And he left a widow and four children. My heart, and the collective hearts of the rest of Fredrick's immediate and extended family still ache. There were so many things about Fredrick, as a child and as a man, that made him special.  But among those things were the statements of many of those who knew him best, including his wife and children, about what a good husband, father, friend, and employee he was. He was also my oldest child and my parents's oldest grandchild. In addition to his wife and children, Fredrick is survived by two brothers and two sisters, three aunts, three uncles, fifteen cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews. We miss him so much.