Frederick Adam Chlopecki, 90, a long-time resident of Warren and Russell, PA, died on May 3, 2023, in Venice, Florida, his winter home.

Born in Schenectady, New York, Fred grew up on a farm in Mechanicville, New York. He began his professional career with General Electric, attending night school at Union College. He later became an inspector for the Atomic Energy Commission – a job that took him to Warren in the early 1960s. Fred found home in Warren, taking a position at Struthers Wells, marrying his sweetheart Ann Barrett, and together raising their three daughters.

A natural leader with a mind for customer service and problem-solving, Fred enjoyed a long career at Struthers, marked by many professional accomplishments and enduring relationships of mutual respect. He departed as Plant Manager and Vice President of Manufacturing in 1988. As a proud member of the Struthers family, Fred especially enjoyed attending Struthers reunion events in recent years. After leaving Struthers, Fred established a second career as a salesman for Whirley Industries, where he worked until his retirement.

Fred was a dedicated father, and relatedly, an impactful booster of girls’ athletics in Warren during his time. In the 1970s, in the absence of a girls’ elementary school basketball league, Fred helped, through his advocacy, pave the way for girls to play on “boys'” teams, so that they had a place to compete. He went on in 1978 to start the Warren Phillies girls’ softball team, doubling local team playing opportunities for girls in the sport. Coaching for about ten years, Fred helped dozens of girls develop their athletic skills, mental toughness, teamwork, sportsmanship, desire for continuous improvement, and love of the game, which gifts live on today in Phillies alumnae and those they influence. The Phillies accumulated many championships and dominated the Warren girls’ softball league every year in which Fred coached.

Fred also supported the Warren High School Swim Team during the early 1980s, when together with Ann he awoke many mornings at the crack of dawn to cook fresh breakfasts of pancakes, bacon, and eggs for the swimmers. Before his daughters were born, he coached Little League Baseball.

Fred married Sandra Walters in 1994, and the two enjoyed travel and adventures near and far, life on her farm in Russell, PA, and eventually winters together in Venice, Florida. Sandy served as a dedicated caregiver to Fred, through the multiple medical challenges he experienced in the latter years of his life.

In retirement, Fred enjoyed spending time in nature, especially feeding and watching birds, as well as building bird houses and painting bird scenes and flowers. He was finally able to realize and enjoy the artistic talent he always had but never had time to explore. Those in his inner circle are now blessed with many beautiful and vibrant works of his fine and folk art.

Fred will be remembered as a gentleman, a loving husband and father, a dedicated coach, a good neighbor, a friend to animals, a skilled leader, and a positive and resilient soul. He had a wonderful sense of humor and saw life as an adventure. It was always fun to be on the bus if he was driving. He lived life with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye until the very end.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Julia Chlopecki, brother Richard Chlopecki, wife of nearly 30 years -- Ann Chlopecki, sister-in-law Jane Wong, and nephew James MacLaren. He is survived by his wife Sandy Chlopecki, brother Kenneth Chlopecki, sister-in-law Mary MacLaren, daughters Julie, Mary, and Laura Chlopecki, stepdaughters Elizabeth Hernan and Jennifer Szymanski, grandchildren Will and Chris Fuscus, Kathryn Kearney, Nikkole Miller, and Laurel Szymanski, and nieces and nephews Martha and David MacLaren, Kristin and David Chlopecki, Beth Wilcox, Lynne Jensen, and Marcia Parcaut.

A Celebration of Life in Fred’s honor will be held on Friday, May 26, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Conewango Valley Country Club in Warren. 

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