J. Frederick Fehl ’64

Fred died April 22, 2017, in Pasadena, Calif., from complications following a major stroke.

Born in Lancaster, Pa., he attended the Lawrenceville School. At Princeton, Fred was a member of Quadrangle Club and earned a degree in physics. In the Palmer Physics Lab, he built a laser — one of the first of its kind — that to our amazement projected a beam of pink light all around the corridors of the building and up and down stairwells using mirrors.

After graduating, Fred worked for the Navy on several top-secret projects. He was heavily involved with the original Sealab underwater habitat and headed the mapping of the entire area off the coast of Chile, for potential hiding places for foreign submarines.

After six years of government service, Fred threw off the bureaucratic yoke to found the Pasadena Piano Co., which repaired, rebuilt, refinished, tuned, and sold pianos of all types.

Notable clients included musician Richard Carpenter and Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame. Fred also played organ at many local churches and was a member of the organist guild. He will be remembered fondly as a non-conformist who lived well outside the box.

Fred is survived by his brother, Jacob, and three nephews. The class extends its condolences to them all.