Frederick C. Lohrum

MIDDLETOWN, RI, Frederick C. Lohrum, Fred left this world, Monday, November 2, 2009 surrounded by his family and Gods love. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Dayton Lohrum, his daughter, Kristie Sills, his daughter, Alison Lohrum and his son Fred Lohrum, Jr., grandchildren, Jillian Palmer, Madi Lohrum, Fred Lohrum III and sons-in-law Leonard Palmer and John Sills. He and Phyllis had been married 55 Years.Fred was born in Cincinnati, Ohio October 28, 1928 and received his BS degree in Industrial Management from the University of Cincinnati. After graduation, he joined the United States Navy where he attained the rank of Lieutenant and served as Operations Officer on the USS Rooks during the Korean War. He began his business career with IBM in Cincinnati in 1955 and later moved to IBM headquarters in White Plains, New York, where he served in various management positions. After leaving IBM in 1968, he joined Randolph Computer Corporation, which was bought by Bank of Boston in 1972. He became Chair and President of BancBoston Leasing, Inc. In February 1992 after his previous job as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Boston Connecticut he took on the responsibility of Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Rhode Island Hospital Trust Bank and, after that, became South Region Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of BankBoston, NA. He retired in January 2000. Fred was involved in education serving as a Governor on the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, a Board member of Salve Regina University, Rhode Island School of Design, and Bryant University. He had been a Chairperson of United Way of Southeastern New England, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, the Business Volunteers for the Arts, City Year, First Night Providence and BVA/RI. Among awards were the :Felix Mirando Humanitarian Award from the National Conference For Community and Justice, the Business Volunteers for the Arts/RI Encore Award, the Leadership Rhode Islands Community Service Award, the Outstanding Commitment to Volunteerism from the Volunteer Center of RI, the American Heart Associations Gold Heart Award for Excellence in Community Service, the Friend of Education Award from the Public Education Fund, recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Narragansett Council Boy Scouts of America, and the 2000 United Way of Southeastern New England Alexis de Touqueville Philanthropic Award. In 1996 he received an Honorary Doctorate degree from Bryant University and in 1999 he received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Providence College. His faith was very important to him and he took an active role in every church to which he belonged, serving on church councils or serving out food. His latest commitment was to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Naples, Florida where he was President of Church Council and a staunch advocate of the Long Range Strategic Planning Board whose goal is to establish a presence where help is needed. His funeral will be held on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 10 am in St. Columba Berkeley Memorial Chapel, 55 Vaucluse Avenue, Middletown.Burial with Military Honors will follow in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown.Calling hours will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2009 from 4-7 pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the American Cancer Society, 222 Richmond St., Suite 200, Providence, RI 02903 or Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 777 Mooring Line Drive, Naples, FL 34102 att: Oil Well Rd. Project or any charity of your choice.