July 16, 2014 at 3:24 p.m.
Frederick Romani Opie
Frederick Romani Opie
Fred was born in Nashua, N.H., on Sept. 27, 1929, the only child of Frederick James Opie and Rita Romani Opie. He grew up in Milford, N.H., and graduated from Milford High School in 1947. He received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, in 1951.
He served his country honorably in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He joined Allis-Chalmers in 1954 as a mechanical engineer and was based in Milwaukee. He then worked for a related company, Siemens-Allis, and eventually co-owned an industrial pump distributorship in Indianapolis, Ind., with his business partner Richard Robinson.
Fred married Nancy Joy Dart in Rhinelander on June 11, 1955. Fred and his family later lived in Louisville, Ky., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Ind. Fred and Nancy retired to Venice, Fla., in 1998.
Fred will be remembered for his frugality, his wonderful stories, his "no work" gardening technique, and his "vertical grill." He organized and ran the annual Butler Open Golf Tournament for family and friends throughout the Midwest for 20 years. Always quick to tell a joke, Fred had an endearing sense of fun and humor, and was always there to lend a hand, work on a project, or cook something up.
Fred is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy Dart Opie, Ph.D.; his daughter, Ellen Marie Opie Williams, and his son-in-law, Frederick Williams, both of Goffstown, N.H.; his cousin, John Romani, Ph.D., of Ann Arbor, Mich.; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Fred will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Milford, N.H. at a later date. Nancy has requested that memorial contributions be made to your choice of children's charities, such as UNICEF (thinking globally) or Child & Family Services of New Hampshire (thinking locally), a Boy's and Girl's Club, or a Big Brother/Big Sister program in your community.
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