Fred Feldman

Fred R. Feldman, 71, entered into eternal rest Feb. 20, 2018. He was born Nov. 4, 1946 in Chicago, IL and has made Jacksonville his home for the past 32 years.

Fred proudly served our country in the US Navy during the Vietnam War, completing 2 tours of duty in Vietnam, exposing him to Agent Orange, resulting in his passion to fight cancer which he has done since 1970. Fred’s own battles with cancer is what led him to want to help others fighting the disease. Fred never used cancer as an excuse to not be able to do something. If anything, cancer gave him a strength to want to conquer it and help others any way he possibly could. Fred spearheaded and ran Cancer Support Groups at his churches over the years reaching out to many needing support. He also was a long time volunteer for the Richard Bloch Cancer Hotline talking to patients from all over the globe. During his early treatment days Fred discovered the benefits of medical marijuana, and worked to educate others about the proper use of it way before it became an item on the voters’ ballot.

He has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 1994 serving on the Olympic Sports Medicine Team for the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996, Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002 and Athens, Greece in 2004.  As a massage therapist, Fred was self employed for 20+ years and always traveled to his clients, who he truly loved and valued.

In his leisure time Fred loved to golf. In fact, if it wasn’t freezing cold you would find him on the golf course every Saturday morning with his golf buddies. Fred volunteered as a Marshal for the last 20 years at THE PLAYERS Championship TPC Sawgrass...you could find him on Hole 5.

He volunteered his time as a Lector for his church, and was a proud member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1046 of Duval County. He was also a member of the VVA Honor/Color Guard and participated in activities helping veterans.

Fred was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was a living example of Christian values that he passed on to his family.

Fred is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Barbara; sons, Ryan and Jordan (Jazmin); grandchildren, Brayden, Lillian, Brooke, Wyatt and Harley; sister, Peggy Kreiser (Larry); and brother, Steven, and extended family. He was recently predeceased by his daughter-in-law, Lyndsey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am, Saturday, March 10, 2018  at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2400 Mayport Rd, Atlantic Beach, FL with Reverend Mark Waters as Celebrant. A private inurnment will be held in Jacksonville National Cemetery at a later date.

Due to recent unexpected death of Fred's daughter-in-law, Lyndsey, the family requests in lieu of flowers donation be made to an acct. set up to help Fred's son and grandson transition to a life without her. To access the account go to  www.youcaring.com/lyndseyfeldman-1089449.