Frederick Paul Velasquez passed away on August 18, 2015. Freddie is survived by his wife of 21 years Lynn Duncan, his mother Mathilde Reed, his daughter Paula Jean Velasquez, his grandson Bredon LeBlanc, his brother Richard Velasquez, and numerous other family members and friends, as well as many godsons and goddaughters, including his “special” godsons Jonathan “JJ” Mulligan and Dr. Rick Swecker. Freddie’s sister Micheline and his father Ernie preceded him in death.
Freddie was born in Reno Nevada, and attended Elmcrest Elementary School, Central and Clayton Middle Schools, Reno High School, and UNR, obtaining both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education. Over 25 years, Freddie became a beloved teacher, coach and school administrator in Washoe County and Humboldt County before retiring “young” at age 50. In retirement he became a fixture at youth and high school sports games where the children of his friends and former students were competing. Freddie loved sports, having been an outstanding high school basketball player at Reno High School and a renowned slow pitch softball player for many years. He also enjoyed hanging out with friends at the local sports betting parlor, where all the employees knew him and loved him, picking the best games of the day to place a bet on, whatever sport might be in season.
We had thought we were going to lose Freddie back in 2005 when he was given 3 to 6 months to live after a shocking diagnosis of fourth stage kidney cancer, but due to Freddie’s strong desire to survive, the support and love of family and friends, and the miracle of modern cancer treatments, Freddie lived a good quality of life until just recently, with many ups and downs in his health due to treatments, but always ready to have lunch with friends when he was able, still retaining that wonderful ability to recognize and chat with one of his former students or old friends from years ago, and the amazing ability to recall everything that happened in junior high, high school or college, and to kid you and joke with you about some of those wonderful times.
Although he knew his time was growing short and he was physically weak, Freddie allowed everyone who wanted to visit him at home his last few weeks of life to share old stories, often drifting away, but still listening, smiling while different generations paid homage to his impact on their lives, from the young to the old. He gave everyone the chance to say good bye, to tell him they loved him, and for him to tell them the same in return. He was a peace knowing that he had done his best, living longer than any of his doctors expected, a “miracle man” as they called him, but that it was now time for him to go.
Services will be held at Our Lady of the Snows Church on Wright and Arlington Streets in Reno, Nevada on Friday, September 18 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, family and friends should feel free to make a donation in Freddie’s name to the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in San Francisco CA.
