Remembering SMSgt Fred Green

Fred Green just to the right of Secretary Perry in 1995

We are sad to announce the death of Fred Green, one of the original MAAF members and one of my own inspirations to activism. We met first in 1999 or 2000 when he was with Washington Area Secular Humanists. I was new to humanism and it was great to see him able to live his values. He was a retired Senior Master Sergeant in Air Force Information Technology. But he dedicated most of his life to activism. Left behind are his wife and two teenage children. His wife of nearly 27 years, Penny told MAAF this story of their lives:

Fred was born on March 29th 1963 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is survived by a sister and 3 brothers.  He was a deeply carrying and compassionate man. He should do anything for his children. He took us to Yellowstone, Key West, and the Great lakes. He travelled extensively while with the Air Force. He retired after 20 years and then continued serving his country by working as a federal employee. Nathan, his 16 year old son said his favorite memory was playing catch with his dad. Megan his 13 year old daughter said her favorite memory was hiking with her father in the blue ridge mountains. Fred and I were married in December of 1987. I have many favorite memories: The birth of out children, travelling, and just being together.

As part of a public awareness campaign

He had a career in information technology, dedication to activism, and a family. He touched many people who are better for having known him and will have to work hard to live up to his example. He put a lot of time in with many groups including MAAF, Camp Quest Chesapeake, the Center For Inquiry in DC, Freedom from Religion Foundation, and Washington Area Secular Humanists. He cultivated a special ability to take pleasure in living his values and in supporting those around him. And while many atheists are in the closet, he was able to be out and to shine a light for others to follow. Fellow activist and long-time friend Mary Bellamy has this to say:

Fred Green was a very loving husband and father who shared that love with all of the Camp Quest Chesapeake campers and staffers as we got the camp off the ground.  He was a counselor and Assistant Camp Director our first year (2011) and an Assistant Camp Director the second (2012).  Fred had not had a lot of experience working with children other than his own when he arrived at camp, but as he wrote after that first year, “Teaching a group of 30-40 campers anything, let alone how to build bridges from Popsicle sticks, was a very new experience for me.  Mercilessly destroying their carefully-built bridges with heavy books during the durability competition was great fun for everyone.”  Fred also worked very hard planning for and working at the Camp Quest tent at the Reason Rally in 2012 so that other families could experience the same fun that his did.  Fun, kindness, and hard work were the gifts he gave us.

As a counselor at Camp Quest Chesapeake in 2012