Obituary of Frederick Sickert

Frederick Theodore Sickert, Sr. "OPA" was born on April 20, 1925 in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City to the late Max Willy and Marie (Jaeschke) Sickert from Germany. After Fred graduated from high school, he enlisted in the Army. He was in five campaigns in Infantry and Artillery during WWII in Europe. Later he served in Military Govt. as a translator while in Germany. After the war, Fred attended Hofstra College and graduated with a BA degree in English. He did some graduate studies at the University of Virginia and Columbia University. His areas of study were Business Law and Persuasive Speaking. While attending college, he worked as a sales clerk at Franklin Simon Dept. Store where he met his future wife, Marilyn Faith Rehbock. They were married in 1952, lived in MA and then moved to Erie and raised four children. In 1961, Fred founded SIRCO Industrial Supply, Inc. formerly called Sickert Rubber Co. Previously he worked as a sales engineer at United States Rubber. During Fred's life he served as President of the Erie Philharmonic and was an active board member for many years. He sang with the Erie Philharmonic Chorus for 53 years and was a past President. He also was a past President of the Board of the Doctor's Osteopathic Hospital and past President of the Local Torch Club. He presented several papers at the Torch Club which were published in the National Torch Magazine. Fred enjoyed sailing his trimaran and was a member of the Erie Yacht Club and Erie Power Squadron. He was on the Ski Patrol at Peak N' Peek earlier in life. Fred and Lyn loved to dance at the Cotillion and at the Erie Philharmonic's Viennese Balls. They supported the D'Angelo School of Music at Mercyhurst and Erie Playhouse. His wife of 58 years preceded him in death in 2011. He is survived by his children: Diane Graybill (Eric) of Kreamer, PA, E. Willy Sickert (Kim) of Erie, Frederick Sickert, Jr. and his fiancé Christine Vomero of Erie and Karen Woods of Delray Beach, FL; five grandchildren: Sara Mathews, Zachary Graybill, Matthew, Lauren, and Sarah Sickert and one great grandchild, Lucas Mathews. He is also survived by several cousins and their families. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. and are invited there on Monday at 10:00 a.m. for the funeral service. Interment with full military honors at Laurel Hill Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff at Sarah Reed Retirement Center for their wonderful care they gave to our dad while he was living there. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Erie Philharmonic, 609 Walnut Street, Erie, PA 16505