Jerry Lewis Fredericks

Jerry Lewis Fredericks, 86, of Salem, Oregon, went to be with his Lord on August 16, 2026. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He sought to know and love others, speak openly and on a deeper, personal level, seeking to understand life, and his relationship to his Lord.

Contrary to popular belief of those who knew him in his younger years, Jerry was not born in a swimming pool, but rather at Good Samaritan hospital in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 1940 to Fred and Diane "Cookie" Fredericks. Jerry grew up in the hills next to UCLA and in Brentwood, with his sister, Kathy.

Jerry's academic studies began at Brentwood grammar school, moved on to Emerson Jr High where he won the American Legion award and was graduating class president. At University High School, he was again elected class president. For his Junior year of HS he transferred to Black-Foxe Military school, where he held many accolades: representing his school at Boys State where he was elected as Mayor of Carson City, president of his Junior and Senior class, made Captain in charge of Alpha Company and part of the National Defense Cadet Corps. After graduating from Black-Foxe, he went on to attend USC to study architecture, but quickly realized that was not meant to be. He ended up at University of Denver with a bachelors in Business Administration. While attending USC and Denver he served in the US Army Reserves. A short jaunt to NYC to complete a Senior Investment Executive Program, then back to Los Angeles where he worked as an investment broker. After the crash of 1987, he opted to take a break, trying out other business ventures before going to live on the North Shore of Oahu, managing investment properties for a friend.

Jerry started his swimming career as a Cub Scout. He was accepted by Paul V. Nash, Brentwood swim club, at age 9, swimming his first major meet, in San Francisco, for the Far West championship. He went on to receive more than twenty National Jr Olympic titles, over 200 medleys and the Helms Award for Jr Olympics two years in a row. High School and college included competitive swimming and numerous national records: butterfly mostly, but also excelling in back stroke, individual medley and free style (All American). Illness prevented him from completing his goal to make it to the Olympics.

While on the North Shore, Jerry met "the one whom his soul loves" while she was vacationing there with family. He moved back to the mainland shortly thereafter to marry Linda and settled in Long Beach, CA. They moved to the PNW several years later to escape the craziness of Southern Cali and to start a family. Jerry loved being a dad, and was able to juggle work to stay at home with Jonathan, spending many hours reading to him, showing him how to draw, encouraging him to dig deeper, and throwing the football. He passed on his love of silly puns and a dry sense of humor. He never met a stranger, frequently coming home with stories of people he met at the gym, grocery store or local hardware store. His love of reading never waned: loved reading the mystics, philosophy and his Bible.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister. After a long 10 year battle with Alzheimers, he leaves behind his wife, Linda Fredericks of 35 years, his son Jonathan (Reaghen) and granddaughter, Emma.

Private ceremony to follow.