1918
Frederick
2015
Frederick John Pilgrim
January 18, 1918 — November 8, 2015
PILGRIM, FREDERICK JOHN
Frederick John Pilgrim (Kalamazoo resident since 2003) peacefully passed away November 8 at the age of 97 at home surrounded by loved ones. He was born January 18, 1918 in Youngstown, OH to the late Frederick Herbert Pilgrim and Geneva (Blanche Jones) Pilgrim. Fred was united in marriage to Meta Louise Tisch on June 16, 1945. Married for 66 years she preceded him in death in 2011. He is survived by one sister, Nancy Wright of Newark, OH; another sister, Mary Jane Pilgrim passed away in 2014. Surviving are two daughters; Diane Pilgrim (Portage), Gail Pilgrim-Ross (Canfield, OH); 2 grandsons, Mark Johnson (Grosse Pointe, Ml), Christian Johnson (Kalamazoo); 2 sons-in-law, Bruce Johnson (Grand Rapids) and Stephen Ross (Canfield, OH); several nieces and nephews. Fred graduated South High School (Youngstown, OH) in 1935. With full scholarship, he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earning a BS in Chemistry (1939) and MS (Chemistry) in 1940. He received his PH.D in Organic Chemistry from the U. of Illinois in 1948. During his career he worked for Merck & Co. (Rahway, NJ), Chas. A. Pfizer (Groton, CT), Wm S. Merrill & Co. (Cincinnati, OH). While at Pfizer, he was the Research Team Manager for the discovery of Tetracycline. After retiring in the 1970s he went on to open, his own business (Pilgrim Financial Services in Pine Beach, NJ). Fred was an Eagle Scout, member of P1 Kappa Alpha (Diamond Chapter Member), Phi Lambda Upsilon, Sigma Xi, and the National Assn. of Security Dealers. Of his many hobbies and interests, the most noted were golf, watching baseball and football, classical music, photography, stamp collecting, and travelling. A man from the "Greatest Generation" of superior intelligence, determination, forthright honesty and integrity and a keen sense of humor, he will be greatly missed. A special thank you goes to Erika Hopper (Paw Paw, Ml) and the Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan for their loving care and support. A private family service will be at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel and interment at Hope Cemetery, Texas Township. Memorial contributions can be made to the Boy Scouts of America or charity of donor's choice.
**CHARITIES**
Boy Scouts of America
Charity of Donor's Choice
Frederick John Pilgrim (Kalamazoo resident since 2003) peacefully passed away November 8 at the age of 97 at home surrounded by loved ones. He was born January 18, 1918 in Youngstown, OH to the late Frederick Herbert Pilgrim and Geneva (Blanche Jones) Pilgrim. Fred was united in marriage to Meta Louise Tisch on June 16, 1945. Married for 66 years she preceded him in death in 2011. He is survived by one sister, Nancy Wright of Newark, OH; another sister, Mary Jane Pilgrim passed away in 2014. Surviving are two daughters; Diane Pilgrim (Portage), Gail Pilgrim-Ross (Canfield, OH); 2 grandsons, Mark Johnson (Grosse Pointe, Ml), Christian Johnson (Kalamazoo); 2 sons-in-law, Bruce Johnson (Grand Rapids) and Stephen Ross (Canfield, OH); several nieces and nephews. Fred graduated South High School (Youngstown, OH) in 1935. With full scholarship, he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earning a BS in Chemistry (1939) and MS (Chemistry) in 1940. He received his PH.D in Organic Chemistry from the U. of Illinois in 1948. During his career he worked for Merck & Co. (Rahway, NJ), Chas. A. Pfizer (Groton, CT), Wm S. Merrill & Co. (Cincinnati, OH). While at Pfizer, he was the Research Team Manager for the discovery of Tetracycline. After retiring in the 1970s he went on to open, his own business (Pilgrim Financial Services in Pine Beach, NJ). Fred was an Eagle Scout, member of P1 Kappa Alpha (Diamond Chapter Member), Phi Lambda Upsilon, Sigma Xi, and the National Assn. of Security Dealers. Of his many hobbies and interests, the most noted were golf, watching baseball and football, classical music, photography, stamp collecting, and travelling. A man from the "Greatest Generation" of superior intelligence, determination, forthright honesty and integrity and a keen sense of humor, he will be greatly missed. A special thank you goes to Erika Hopper (Paw Paw, Ml) and the Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan for their loving care and support. A private family service will be at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel and interment at Hope Cemetery, Texas Township. Memorial contributions can be made to the Boy Scouts of America or charity of donor's choice.
**CHARITIES**
Boy Scouts of America
Charity of Donor's Choice
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Frederick John Pilgrim, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Photo Gallery
Visits: 3
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors