Beloved Couple Honored With New Scholarship

The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain has recently announced a newly established scholarship fund, the John & Sylvia Fredericks Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Gary Fredericks, John and Sylvia’s son, came to the foundation wanting to honor his parents’ life and legacy and established the new fund in their memory.

The scholarship is for current seniors or graduates of high schools in Avon, Berlin, Bristol, Farmington, New Britain, Newington, Plainville, Southington and Wethersfield.

The Fredericks were lifelong New Britain residents.

John Fredericks served in the Army during World War II and Korea. Later in life, he was active
serving on various commissions including as a police commissioner, but was best known
for dressing up as Uncle Sam for parades and events city- and state-wide, including
President Ronald Reagan’s visit to New Britain on July 8, 1987.

John Fredericks died Nov. 30, 2003.

Sylvia Fredericks worked at Fafnirs for 39 years assembling ball bearings and she could cook or bake anything and no one could make a pie like her.

A day after celebrating her 89th birthday, she suffered a ruptured aneurysm. Six months later, she was working on her hands and knees in the garden.

Even into her 90s, she was still gardening, making 20+ pies and 40 turnovers during summer, and over 1,600 cookies at Christmas, so she could give cookies to her family and friends.

On Nov. 30, 2020, she died at 94.

“This fund is the best way I can think to honor them. I hope the impact they had on me can help students pursue their careers and encourage them to have a positive impact on others, and always be there for their parents when they need help,” said Gary Fredericks.

The fund's aim is to enable recipients to attend schools of higher education including accredited colleges, universities, technical or trade schools.

One or more scholarship(s) per year shall be awarded to high school seniors or previous graduates of high schools (public or private) who meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Graduating seniors or previous graduates of Avon, Berlin, Bristol, Farmington, New Britain, Newington, Plainville, Southington and Wethersfield high schools, or any successor thereto.

• Students must be pursuing a degree or certificate program in the field of nursing, physical therapy, law enforcement, or be accepted to a U. S. military academy.

Awardees accepted to a military academy will have their award applied to their academy account for expenses the cadet is responsible for where possible.

Students attending medical schools for an advanced degree in medicine are also eligible to apply.

• Students must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average to apply.

• Students demonstrate that they are hardworking, community and family-oriented like those the scholarship is named for.

• Preference will be given to students attending the University of Connecticut in one of the noted degree or certificate programs.

Awardees from previous years are eligible to apply for renewed scholarships in subsequent years so long as they meet all scholarship criteria.

To make a gift to the John & Sylvia Fredericks Memorial Scholarship Fund, send a check payable to CFGNB to 74 Vine St., New Britain, CT 06052 with “Fredericks” in the memo line, or make a gift online at www.cfgnb.org/john-sylvia-fredericks-memorial-scholarship-fund.

Those interested in establishing their own fund or scholarship, contact David Obedzinski, CFGNBpresident, at 860-229-6018, ex. 306 or david@cfgnb.org.