Charter member and cherished friend of Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise mourns the loss of our friend and fellow Rotarian, Fred Gaeden, who passed away on July 27 following complications after recent heart surgery.
Fred was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise, joining in 1985. Over the years, he generously served as Club Treasurer, Foundation Treasurer, and Club President during the 2008–09 Rotary year. In 2020, after 35 years of active membership, Fred became an Honorary Member of the club in recognition of his many years of service and dedication.
A Certified Public Accountant, Fred graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Business Administration and devoted his career to serving clients throughout the Santa Barbara community. He was respected for his expertise in estate planning, trust administration, and tax services, and he generously shared his professional talents with numerous nonprofit organizations. Outside of work, Fred enjoyed photography and golf.
Fred was predeceased by his beloved wife, Rose Ann. His family and friends are in our thoughts during this difficult time.
View more photos here.
Remembering Fred
“Fred was one of my first friends in Santa Barbara. Of course, I met him at Rotary SB Sunrise!
Fred and I shared office space starting in 2012. He was my office buddy. He patiently tutored me in the intricacies of finance. And he was always sharing a good joke. I miss him like crazy. May he rest in peace and may his name always be a blessing.”
Kathy J. Scroggs
Share Your Memories
If you have a favorite memory, story, or photo of Fred that you would like to share, please send it to kykawaguchi.sb@gmail.com. We will continue to update this article as additional remembrances are received.