Frederick Paul Seifried

Fred Seifried of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania passed away at his home on April 23, 2021. Born July 1, 1944, he was preceded in death by his mother and father, William Edward and Marjorie (Barth) Seifried and nephew, Scott Seifried. He is survived by his son Will (Sonne) Seifried, of Penn Township, brother Bill (Sheila) Seifried of Munhall, sister Julie (Tom) Dillenburg of Pittsburgh, niece Marjorie Dillenburg, nephews Ted (Nikki) Dillenburg, Craig Seifried, great nephews Brett Seifried, Connor Seifried, Sam Dillenburg, and the light of his life, granddaughter Toren Seifried. A master mechanic by trade, Fred had a unique talent for repairing just about anything with an engine. Growing up in Aspinwall, PA, his love of cars and motorcycles fueled his natural curiosity at an early age, and those skills translated well to all aspects of life. Fred often went out of his way to share his knowledge, wisdom, and ability with anyone in need. Fred's contribution always provided interesting take on life … a few pearls of wisdom: Never start a plumbing project late at night. The only thing you really have in life is your word. Don't break it. $200? That's ridiculous! That costs more than my first four cars! As a counterculture activist, his college years often found him crossing paths with the likes of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Dr. King – to name a few. Fred loved taking his son (and friends, on occasion) on odd adventures. Dirt track auto races with a tour of the pits, spontaneous trips to local and national historic sites, overnight canoe excursions, museums, target practice in the woods, or to an empty parking lot to teach some teenagers how to drive. Even if it was simply left to the spirit of the day, he had a way of making it memorable. Fred's true passion was the arts. He was a writer, poet, artist, and prolific photographer. He appreciated, admired, and encouraged creativity in those he knew, especially his son and granddaughter. His words inspired many local and national artists. He was fascinated by the everyday people, places, and things that transformed the Pittsburgh art community over the last 25 years and photographed much of what he witnessed. Every person, every work of art, every moment he captured had a story. No matter how insignificant it may have seemed, Fred found these moments important enough to document. He could often be found at gallery crawls, independent film screenings, small music venues, or simply wandering the neighborhoods looking for people doing something interesting. To those that knew him, Fred was one of a kind. A blue-collar renaissance man of sorts; mechanic, father, poet, handyman, chef, story teller, brother, photographer, master of sarcastic wit, uncle, advisor, historian, naturalist, philosopher, artist, friend, and grandfather to name a few. Rest easy Fred, and thank you for enriching this little corner of the universe in ways only you could. Per his final wishes, there will be no service, However, a celebration of Fred's life may occur at such a time as public health permits. In lieu of flowers etc., donations may be made to the Pittsburg Center for the Arts, The Vintage Grand Prix, Art All Night, or by simply patronizing your local art community.

Frederick Paul Seifried

July 1, 1944 - April 24, 2021