Fred was an engaging guy who rose to the top in situations that required personality and passion.
He grew up in New York City, the son of Dr. Edward and Sylvia Graber. While he spent most of his time living in New York and Greenwich, Conn., he enjoyed the Florida climate and died Nov. 28, 2007, in the Sunshine State of a massive stroke.
Fred, sometimes called Grabes or Jay, graduated from Horace Mann School. After Princeton he attended Harvard Business School. While at Princeton he was part of the C-K Productions team that brought to campus popular entertainers such as The Kingston Trio, Fats Domino, and Ray Charles. He lived with Bill Cass and Bill Schwendler at Key and Seal Club, where he had multiple management roles, and roomed at Harvard with Schwendler.
Fred joined Lehman Brothers and became a successful floor broker. After a dozen years he left to form Frederic J. Graber & Co. in 1979. He liked raising money, and many nonprofits benefited from his skill and energy.
He was married to Elizabeth “Betsy” Stein for 31 years, and was blessed by children Anne and David, all of whom survive him. His infectious enthusiasm will be missed by friends, family and classmates.