Very sad news indeed. Ironically he passed away on my birthday.
I remember almost 15 years ago talking with him when I was helping to coordinate his visit to the San Diego 3-Railer's layout in Balboa Park; he was going to be in Cali for a few days visiting relatives & friends as I recall, and wanted to drop by to take photographs while he was here, in spite of the layout not being quite finished scenery-wise at the time (the layout was just recently rebuilt). After a few pleasant phone & email chats the day was finalized. When that day came I made sure to keep an eye out for him, and before too long I spotted him along with Edie huddled amongst a group of visitors; he told me later he was trying to be discreet but I told him it didn't work 
.
Before long after chatting with the group of us running that day on the history of the layout, etc. he began setting up his gear. I've heard beforehand, from Jim Barrett and others in addition to his own self-confession, that he was a bit of a cranky curmudgeon when it comes to staging shots to suit his style of photography, and sure enough (and in spite of being a minister) he did get a tad bit cranky & impatient a few times when having people stage their trains in certain spots on the layout, but once he got his shots, he was all happy in between. It didn't bother me a bit; I chalked it up to part of his strive for the perfect shots. He was made an honorary club member as a sign of our appreciation.
Needless to say, I haven't corresponded with him all that much since then, but needless to say he struck me as a very humble, personable, warm and likable fellow, and I've always admired his interest in the Delta Lines and his interpretation he did on his layout in addition to the contributions he's made to the magazine and the hobby as a hole. And his wife Edie was a real sweetheart and a treat to talk to as well.
You'll be greatly missed Fred, and my sincere condolences go out to Edie and the rest of his family in their time of loss.
