Frederick John Gradishar Jr.

Frederick John Gradishar, Jr., 69, of Forest Hill, MD passed away on November 5, 2017 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, MD. Born in Radford, VA, he was the son of Frederick John Gradishar Sr. and Lillian (Humphreys) Gradishar. He was a graduate of the University of Delaware where he met his wife 51 years ago, and where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He was a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant after being stationed in Fort Benning, GA and Fort Bliss, TX. A master gardener and professional horticulturist, he retired in 2012 from the Harford County Public Schools where he worked for 37 years as a Horticulture teacher first at Bel Air High School, then at Harford Tech High School. He had coached all of his sons’ baseball teams at Forest Hill Recreation Council and also for Harford Sox, as well as coaching wrestling, baseball, and softball at Harford Technical High School. He was currently employed as an adjunct professor teaching floral design at Harford Community College and was a member of American Legion Post #39, Bel Air MOOSE Lodge 1952, and the Bel Air Athletic Club. He enjoyed traveling, especially out west, walking the Ma and Pa trails, gardening, reading, exercising, grocery store shopping, cooking, and volunteering at Eden Mill Nature Center. He always had to have a truck and loved spending time at the beaches from Key West to Maine. He loved his dogs, Petey, Velvet and Blackie, and was very proud of his sons, adored his grandchildren and dearly loved his entire family.

Mr. Gradishar is survived by his wife of 48 years, Susan C. Gradishar; three sons, Daniel F. Gradishar of Fairfax, VA, Matthew (Anna) J. Gradishar of Reston, VA and Michael (Kait) J. Gradishar of Alexandria, VA; grandchildren, Amelie, Emalyn, Grace, Nolan and Jack; two sisters, Patricia Kateley of Haslett, MI and Marsha Hays of North Wales, PA; and nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws.

Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research, https://giving.mskcc.org/ways-give or to Eden Mill Nature Center, 1617 Eden Mill Rd, Pylesville, MD 21132.