CUMBERLAND - Frederick E. Young, 84, of Cumberland, passed away peacefully Feb. 18 in just the way he wanted: at home with his wife Susan and daughter Jackie by his side.

Born July 18, 1940 in Jamestown, NY, he was the son of the late  Lester and Evangeline (Flohr) Young. A 1958 graduate of Wellsville High School in NYS, he attended the University of Miami where, legend has it, he spent more time playing pool in the student center than studying in the campus library.

He left the university, walked into a Kinney Shoe Store in Lighthouse Point, Fla. and got a job that matched his warm personality. He was a terrific salesman and rose to manager of Kinney stores in Florida, New Orleans and Houston. He returned to the Northeast in the late 1970s, settling in Rhode Island, where he managed Hope's, a Providence bar.

Fred was drafted in November 1963 and discharged two years later, one week before his Army unit at Fort Benning was sent to Vietnam.

He married Susan Crossley in September,1988. They settled in Cumberland where Fred delighted in keeping the backyard swimming pool sparkling clean for neighborhood children and impromptu visits by his daughter's friends who called him their "pool boy."

Susan was key to keeping the household running smoothly and, as Fred's health deteriorated, her responsibilities grew. Fred lovingly called her Secretary Susan for juggling their complicated appointments calendar and Renovation Rosie when she planned home improvements. It was her role as Nurse Betty that he appreciated the most and he rarely missed a chance to say so.

Fred had a lifelong interest in professional sports, an aversion to vegetables and dentures, a fondness for maple sugar candy, and a talent for witty story-telling at family gatherings.

In retirement, Fred enjoyed the camaradarie of weekly golf with older fellows at Chemawa, and beamed in pride when he and a partner won top honors in four out of their last five senior tournaments.

A man of routine, he spent mornings doing crossword puzzles, sudoku, wordle, and the Spelling Bee, often earning "Genius" status. Afternoons and evenings were reserved for televised baseball, football, basketball and golf.

Nothing, however, could compete with the joy he got from sports card collecting, a hobby launched at the age of 8 and put on a 30-year hiatus when he reached his teen years. He resumed in earnest around 1980, buying and selling at New England card shows and online. A year ago, at 83, his beloved collection went to auction, raising an awesome overall take that surprised everyone except Fred.

In addition to his wife of 36 years,  he leaves his daughter Jacquelyn, her fiance, Evan Duarte, his sister, Carol Young, brother-in-law Wayne Coats, niece, Katharine Coats and several other nieces, great nieces, nephews and great nephews.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 8 pm Wednesday, Feb. 26, and also at 9 am Thursday, Feb. 27 at J J Duffy Funeral Home, 757 Mendon Road, Rt. 122 Cumberland.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 am in St. Jude Church, 301 Front Street, Lincoln. Burial at the Veterans Cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to support the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Go to BaseballHall.org and search under Join and Preserve.

An online memorial available at jjduffyfuneralhome.com