Obituary
Canandaigua – Frederick Hadlow Searles, age 84, died Saturday, August 5, 2017.
Friends may call Friday (August 11th) from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Kenneth J. Perkins Funeral Home in Gorham. A Funeral Service will follow at 4 p.m. at the funeral home, with Military Honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Alzheimer’s Association, 435 E. Henrietta Rd., Rochester, NY 14620; or to the American Legion Winneck Post #396, 1115 Lochland Rd., Geneva, NY 14456.
Fred was a member of the Class of 1950 from Geneva High School. He was Class President in both his Junior and Senior years. Fred entered Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where he was active in academics, sports and fraternity life, while earning his BA in Economics. In 1954, he entered the US Air Force and was awarded his single engine jet pilot wings at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, Texas. He spent a year in Thule, Greenland patrolling the skies. Upon his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he graduated in 1958 from Columbia University with an MBA.
Fred fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning his own insurance agency at MUNY in Seattle, WA and then at Glendale, CA. Eventually he moved back to New York to help his siblings in the care of their mother.
In 1995, Fred walked up to the Ken’s Hot Dog Stand on Main Street in Canandaigua, where he met and fell in love with his wife of 20 years, Pat Reifsteck. They began a life of love and were married in 1997. In 1999, they moved to Conway, SC where they built a new home in Myrtle Trace, while enjoying activities, including plays, bowling and community chorus. Coastal Carolina called Fred back to school and he subsequently earned his MS in Education in 2003, as well as a BA in Political Science, with a minor in Theatre in 2012 at the age of 79. He is the oldest graduate of CCU.
Fred was a member of the Geneva American Legion Winneck Post #396; a former member of the Gorham Rotary Club; and a member of numerous college fraternities.
Fred was born February 3, 1933 and was predeceased by his parents, Howard T. and Elizabeth Hadlow Searles; his sister, Sarah “Sally” Searles Booth; sister-in-law, Marietta Searles; and brother-in-law, Bruce Milne.
Fred is survived by his wife, Patricia Adams Reifsteck Searles; his son, Cailein (Laura Cameron)) MacDougall; and grandson, Kyle MacDougall. He is also survived by his grandson Paul George Searles; his brother, Howard Searles; and his four sisters, Christine Milne, Dorene (Edward) MacDonald, Marian (Richard) Buck, and Isabel (Jack) Mroczyhowski; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Fred loved to talk sports, especially Syracuse basketball, with Pat’s six children: Mike, Steve, Tom, Maureen, Dave, and Phil, and their spouses. They and their families also survive him and will miss those chats. He will also be missed by his sisters-in-law, Betty Rogers, Shirley Adams and Jo Kindelberger.
Pat wishes to thank the people of The Pines at the Ewing Center for their kindness and care shown to Fred.