Frederick B. Knodel Sr., of Mount Sinai, N.Y., left this life on April 8, 2025, to join his beloved wife and daughter in Heaven.
Fred was born in New Haven Ct. on April 5, 1933, the only child of Frederick and Corinne Knodel.
Fred graduated from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, in 1955. Rarely was there a day in the 70 years thereafter that he wasn’t wearing something that demonstrated his Citadel pride. Following graduation, Fred was hired by GMAC in New Haven Ct. and shortly thereafter was promoted to a higher position in New York City. During the ensuing years, he worked in the Garden City, NY office, and retired in 1985 after 30 years of service and enumerable friendships. Subsequently, he went on to work as a Vice President at Citibank for 5 years and then Primus Automotive for another 5 years, before retiring from both companies. His dedication and work ethic were unsurpassed as demonstrated by him never using a sick day during his entire career.
Fred married the love of his life, Elizabeth in 1962 and spent 62 wonderful years together, raising two children Stacy and Rick. Stacy and Elizabeth went to Heaven in 2013 and 2023 to prepare room for their beloved father and husband. Fred was extremely proud of his children and shared bona-fide joy in every accomplishment, large or small. They showered much pride on their Dad, and Fred’s love for Rick and Stacy was unexcelled. When Rick married Donna and they had beautiful twin sons, Matthew and Christopher, that pride only grew for his grandchildren. Fred loved to spend as much time with his family as possible.
Fred and Elizabeth retired to Pawley’s Island, SC in 1999 and enjoyed 20 years of hosting Rick, Donna, Matthew and Christopher for annual vacations and created remarkable memories, before moving back to Long Island to be closer to their family. They established lifelong friendships with many of the people they met along their journey.
Fred is survived by Rick, Donna, his two grandsons, Matthew and Christopher and his dog Reba.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Frederick B. Knodel, Sr. to the charities below