Fredrick C. Harwood
Fredrick C. Harwood passed away Sunday, August 18, 2013, at the age of 100. He died in his Beaufort home with his two daughters and dear friends by his side. Fred was born in New York City, New York. He is a veteran of World War II, having served in Europe as a Captain in the Signal Corps.
After the war, he returned to work as an insurance agent for the Home Insurance Company. He raised his family in Maine. Then he and his wife, Helen, moved to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He was an active sailor, volunteered for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and served as commodore of the St. Croix Yacht Club.
Fred and Helen arrived in Beaufort in 1983. They each volunteered more than 3,000 hours at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Fred was a retired active Rotary member. At the celebration of his 100th birthday, Beaufort Rotary Club announced that he was the oldest active Rotarian in both South Carolina and the U.S., as well as the third oldest in the world. He was instrumental in establishing an Endowment Fund for this Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow.
In 2010, Fred became Beaufort Rotary’s “Ten Ton Man” having originated the project, “Magazines for the Troops.” At the time of this honor, he and other Rotarians sent 10 tons of magazines to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The current total of magazines sent is over 26,000 pounds. It was Fred’s goal to have a member of “The Greatest Generation” reach out to today’s generation of soldiers.
Fred loved working with his hands, wood working, carpentry and leather work. He had a passion for learning and took a compute course in his late eighties. He was happiest on the water sailing. Fred was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years, Helen M. Harwood. He is survived by his two daughters, Susan and Sally, who both reside in Maine. Fred will be interred in New Jersey in the family plot beside his wife. No services will be held.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please send donations to Beaufort Rosary Club Endowment Fund, C/O Beaufort Rotary Club, P. O. Box 395, Beaufort, SC 29901-0395.
Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
