Frederick S. Brody

Fred Brody of Sarasota, Florida, passed away on Sunday, January 29, after almost reaching the age of 93.

The death of his father when Fred was 15 forever shaped his view on life and his own mortality. He was amazed at every year of life after the age of 50, which was his father’s age when he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Fred was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 4, 1930, to Max and Estelle (Norton) Brody. One of the families’ greatest pleasures was to vacation each summer in South Haven, Michigan. He attended Culver Military Academy where he began his lifelong hatred of early mornings. He graduated from Senn High School and Northwestern University, and earned a Master’s Degree from Georgetown University. He and his older brother, Steve who owned a clothing store, sowed their wild oats in Chicago as two well-dressed bachelors.

Fred then heeded the call to join the Air Force as a First Lieutenant during the Korean War. He traveled the globe with an attaché case locked to his wrist after earning a Master’s Degree as a Psychological Intelligence Warfare Officer. Subsequently, he pursued a career in advertising and worked for various agencies before forming his own in 1980.

After his tour of duty, Fred met and married the love of his life Grace Meixner, an aspiring designer from Wisconsin. They were married for 64 years before she predeceased him in 2019. Since then, she was never far from his thoughts. They built their dream retirement home in Sarasota where Fred often could be found reading the New York Times in the shallow end of their pool. Everyone who met Fred was impressed with his intellect which was wide ranging and deep. He could be seen at many social gatherings having serious and involved discussions with family members and friends. He was an avid reader and patron of the arts.

Fred is survived by his children, Matthew (Rachel) Brody, Lydia (Laurence) Brody Oppen; and his four grandchildren, Robin, Ryan, and Sarah Brody; Alex (Kayla) Oppen:, and his great grandson, Brody Oppen.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Holocaust Museum.

Services will be held on Friday, March 3, 2023, 12:30 pm at Sarasota National Cemetery