Fredric August Fucci

Fredric August Fucci was born February 28, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York, to Federico Fucci and Edythe Anderson. He died June 26, 2016, at his home in Goleta, where he lived with Carol Peterson. A memorial service will be held July 18, 11:30 a.m., at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Santa Barbara (Truls Nelson and Russ Gordon officiating); a reception will follow at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. His ashes will be scattered at sea, per his request.

Fred attended Brooklyn Technical High School, specializing in engineering, and spent his summers working at a Boy Scout camp, where he eventually became an Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster to 40 children. He enlisted in the US Navy after graduation, hoping to become a pilot, but was stationed with other duties in Florida for 2 years. He was finally able to realize his dream when Mark Hurd Aerial Photography of Santa Barbara put him to work in 1948 as a photo-navigator mapping the United States.

In 1952, Fred married Elda Anna Heyden, daughter of Erdman Heyden and Leona Lamb, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1954, Hycon Aerial Surveys offered him the opportunity to do some high altitude flying in South and Central America, so the family packed their bags and spent the next 3 years living in Chile, Peru, and Ecuador.

Returning to Santa Barbara 1968, he began purchasing and building duplexes near the beach and university in Isla Vista; beginning a new career in property management. He took college classes to learn the building trade and went to work for Michael Towbes Construction. In 1970 he purchased a home in one of their developments; then built a vacation cabin in Lake Nacimiento’s Laguna Vista Boat Club. Fred retired from Towbes Construction in 1992, but vacation plans had to be put on hold due to his wife’s declining health; Elda died in 1995. When he was ready to begin traveling again in 1996, Fred invited Carol Peterson to join him on his adventures.

Fred never let age or infirmity slow him down as he travelled, by cruise ship and RV, throughout the world. In February 2016, he celebrated his 90th birthday with a huge party attended by the many friends he’d made while conducting aerial surveys, managing property, working for Michael Towbes, and cruising the world.

While Fred had no children of his own, he counted among his family Elda’s and Carol’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Elda (1919-1995), his stepdaughter Vicky (1994-2003) and son-in-law Norman (1944-2001). He is survived by Carol; and her children Brian, Karen, and Gary; and grandchildren Chrystalyn, Toby, Maria, Jaedyn and David. He is also survived by his stepdaughter Phyllis; grandchildren Norm, Steve, Ted, Tony, Tracy, and Tim; and great-grandchildren Matt, Mike, Teighlor, and TJ. He will be greatly missed. Memorial donations may be made to Direct Relief or Hospice or your favorite charity.