Frederick C. Eid of Danville, New Hampshire, died peacefully on Saturday May 12, 2007, in the arms of his loving wife Kathleen Pender Eid at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire, at the age of 57.
Predeceased by his parents Joseph C. Eid and Grace (Hartleb) Eid, Fred was born on October 17, 1949, in Jersey City, N.J., and raised in Midland Park and Wyckoff, N.J. He entered the Order of the Xaverian Brothers in 1965 and remained with them until June 2004. He had the great fortune of discovering Kathy in October 2004, and they began their married life in June 2005. Fred dedicated 34 years to shaping the lives of thousands of high school students. One former student said it best by writing “whether encapsulating the essence of a math problem with a pithy Bruce Springsteen quote or pumping his fist in exuberance when a student would finally wrap their arms around a complicated calculus theorem, Fred was the kind of teacher that you typically only find in Hollywood classrooms.”
He began his teaching career in 1972 at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass. From 1977 to 2004, the bulk of his life as teacher, coach and mentor took place at Malden Catholic H.S., Malden, Mass. He taught at Triton Regional H.S. in Byfield, Mass., since Sept. 2004, but his career was prematurely interrupted in June 2006 by his illness.
Fred taught algebra, geometry and calculus at all course and grade levels. He brought his artistic talents to the classroom as the studio art instructor often guiding students who had never shown an interest in art to discover talents they didn’t know or believe they had. He also taught computer programming for a time. His effectiveness as a teacher was characterized by his determination that his students could and would learn. Fred’s high energy level and desire to help students explore their gifts spilled over into his roles as JV soccer coach, assistant swim coach, math team coach, yearbook advisor, newspaper advisor, National Honor Society advisor, and founder and director of Malden Catholic Computer Institute.
The students in his newspaper, yearbook, photography, math and art clubs regularly received recognition and awards in regional competitions. Fred humbly received his own awards which included Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, 1998; Eastern Mass. Swimming Coaches Association’s Asst. Swim Coach of the Year, 1997; Ryken Award from Malden Catholic H.S., 1996, Harvard Prize Book, 1996; Tandy Technology Scholars Outstanding Teacher, 1993 and 1994; Mass. Secondary School Athletic Directors Association’s Distinguished Service Award, 1993; Malden Catholic Adult Athletic Service Award, 1994 and 1998; New England Scholastic Press Association’s Robert Baram Award, 2007.
Fred also managed to maintain membership with a variety of organizations such as the Nat’l. Council of Teachers of Mathematics; Assoc. of Advanced Placement Mathematics Teachers; Columbia Univ. Scholastic Press Association; Board of Directors of New England Scholastic Press Association.
When he was not spending time in the classroom during the school day, or countless hours guiding or attending students’ activities after school and on weekends, Fred enjoyed playing the guitar, listening to music, fishing, swimming, kayaking, biking, painting, drawing, making pottery, being with family and friends, and finding and/or creating a party.
He is survived by his wife Kathleen Pender Eid and stepdaughter Carolyn Pender. He has eight surviving siblings: Christine (Tartaglia), Thomas, Evelyn (Khan), Robert, Stephen, Dolores (Fernandez), Joseph and William, and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours at Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Salem, N.H., are Tuesday, May 15 from 3-5 and 7-9 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, May 16, at 10:30 AM at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Hampstead, N.H.
Additionally, there will be a Memorial Mass on June 2 at 9:30 AM at Church of the Nativity, Midland Park, N.J., followed by burial at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, N.J.
In Fred’s memory, donations can be made to the Danville Police Dept., P.O. Box 443, Danville, N.H. 03819.