Frederick was a friendly guy who seemed to know everybody. He would walk along the street and invariably run into someone he knew. In fact, it was difficult for him to make much progress, because he would stop and chat, or pause to buy a homeless person a cup of coffee.
He was one of those people who never met a stranger.
"He was very outgoing," his wife said. "He really liked people."
Frederick's resilience may have been founded in his braving a head injury he suffered when he was struck by a car at age 9. Fighting to overcome that injury no doubt made him strong.
He was born in Harrisburg to Althea Jones and James Albert Weathers. His mother died when he was 11, and he and his brother, Anthony, became foster children.
They were inseparable after being taken in by the family of an elder in the Church of God and Saints of Christ. They were together so much, people thought they were twins. Through their youth, they worked together, shoveling snow, raking leaves and doing odd jobs for neighbors.
Frederick graduated from William Penn High Schooland entered the Air Force. He served as a medic.
He met his future wife through her brother, Bobby Claytor, an Air Force buddy. They were married on Dec. 11, 1965.
Frederick had a diverse education. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from La Salle University and studied dental prosthetics at the Royal College of Dental Surgeons in Ontario and at McGill University in Montreal.
He received a master's degree in organizational dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in naturopathic medicine at the International University of Brussels, Erasmus Hospital.
His last job was with Hill Dermaceuticals, which specializes in developing products to treat skin conditions.
Frederick liked to bring his family together for prayer and Bible readings.
He was active with a number of organizations that serve the needy like the Belleville Widows and Orphans Home, Sons of Abraham and the Josephine Solomon Ellis Foundation for people raising grandchildren.
A jazz enthusiast, Frederick liked to sit in with musical groups with his bass. He could identify many a jazz piece after hearing a few notes.
Besides his wife and brother, he is survived by two daughters, Natalie Nixon and Mercedes Weathers; a stepson, Ricky Griffin; and a sister, Loretta Faulk.
Services: Were Nov. 11.
