FRED TRYNER: CLASSMATE, ATHLETE, TEAMMATE AND FRIEND PASSES ON...
Fred R. Tryner was a classmate, teammate and friend... Fred died May 22, 2008, in Pinellas Park, FL, after a lengthy battle with Leukemia. He was 67-years-old and passed away peacefully with his loving wife Kathy by his side.
Fred was an upfront guy who liked a few things and he liked them well. He loved people and he loved helping them. He loved his sports and, as a kid, he loved tinkering under the hood of the car. He also loved animals, especially his dogs.
In his early days at NHHS, Fred excelled in football and baseball. He was short on size but compensated with blazing speed. Fred's nickname was "Retread" but it very well could have been "The Road-Runner." His teammates marveled as he got those short legs churning and took off so quickly. They watched the ensuing cloud of dust, and the eventual build up and bolt of lightning speed.
Fred was jersey #33 and the speedy wingback on the football team. He was also the centerfielder on the North Hills championship baseball teams of the late 1950's and early '60's. As the Indians leadoff man, he rarely struck out, and never missed a fly ball to the outfield. On the days when fleet-footed Fred wasn't running the gridiron or patrolling centerfield, he could be found breaking down, or building up, the engine of one of his automobiles.
Following high school, Fred enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. His training during that four year stint led him to a career of helping people. Fred became a EMT, then a EMT and CPR Instructor. His move to Florida in 1975 coincided with that of his then retiring parents. Upon his arrival, he promptly set out to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and commenced working in both, hospitals and nursing homes. In essence, those moves put Fred firmly on his career path of further helping and taking care of people in need.
He preferred working with the elderly in nursing homes, no doubt dispensing doses of positive reinforcement and encouragement to the residents on a daily basis. Fred believed he could make the biggest impact in nursing homes. His next achievement was becoming a certified MDS (Minimum Data Set) coordinator. With that certificate under his belt, he proceeded onto a lengthy career which included working at Parkway Nursing Home and the Laurelwood Nursing Center in Pinellas Park. At those facilities, he enjoyed the daily satisfaction of helping the residents cope. He helped them make it through their long days, helped them address their problems, and made tomorrow look brighter than today.
Fred's tenure in nursing care was a fruitful experience. Not only did he reap the rewards of his effort but it was at Parkway Nursing Home where he met Kathy, the dietician, who became his second wife. Fred moved onto Laurelwood and remained until his illness forced retirement in 2003. The illness, which was diagnosed as Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, began to take its toll. So, after nearly two decades of taking care of others, it was Fred who needed the helping hand. He became a regular, in and out, patient at the Bay Pines VA Hospital. According to Fred, they did not let him down and he spoke highly of the hospital and its personnel thoughout his ordeal.
While battling the health issues, Fred kept busy with his sports collection. He collected, bought and sold, football and baseball cards over the internet and boasted owning over 600,000 cards. He also boasted being a life-long Pittsburgh Steelers football fan. And that was easily confirmed by this writer who, on a recent surprise visit to Fred's home after not seeing him for over 45 years, found him proudly wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Champions T-shirt. It's often said by so many Pittsburgh transplants that, "you can take the person out of Pittsburgh, but you can't take Pittsburgh out of the person. It was clearly evident that Fred's Steelers were part of that lasting Pittsburgh package.
Fred had a best friend named "Fergie," who he loved dearly. "Fergie" was his buddy. At Fred's request, the remains of his friend, who died in 2005 at age 14, will be buried with him. "Fergie" was the pet dog, an old English Sheepdog. It's goes without saying that, in addition to his love of sports, cars and caring for others, our friend loved animals, too.
During the March visit, Fred expressed his desire and interest in attending one of our class reunion gatherings but, he said, "I think I can make it, and then, I just know that I don't have the strength and endurance to do it. I wish I could. Tell everybody hello and that I love them!"
Fred will be missed greatly but he will be remembered forever...
He is survived by wife Kathy (Pinellas Park, FL), his new pet dog and friend "PatC" (Pinellas Park, FL), son Kevin (Atlanta, GA), daughter Kelly Pridgen (Aiken, SC), step-daughter Melissa Bigelow (Pinellas Park, FL), three grandsons and one great-grandson. A Memorial Funeral Service and Interment was held at the Bay Pines National Cemetery in Bay Pines, FL, and Fred was honored by the presence of two U.S. Air Force Officers. All of the arrangements were entrusted to Veterans Funeral Care of Clearwater, FL. Should you wish to express your condolences to Fred's wife and family, please send to: Kathy Tryner, 6900 78th Avenue North, Pinellas, Park, FL 33781...
Fred was an upfront guy who liked a few things and he liked them well. He loved people and he loved helping them. He loved his sports and, as a kid, he loved tinkering under the hood of the car. He also loved animals, especially his dogs.
In his early days at NHHS, Fred excelled in football and baseball. He was short on size but compensated with blazing speed. Fred's nickname was "Retread" but it very well could have been "The Road-Runner." His teammates marveled as he got those short legs churning and took off so quickly. They watched the ensuing cloud of dust, and the eventual build up and bolt of lightning speed.
Fred was jersey #33 and the speedy wingback on the football team. He was also the centerfielder on the North Hills championship baseball teams of the late 1950's and early '60's. As the Indians leadoff man, he rarely struck out, and never missed a fly ball to the outfield. On the days when fleet-footed Fred wasn't running the gridiron or patrolling centerfield, he could be found breaking down, or building up, the engine of one of his automobiles.
Following high school, Fred enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. His training during that four year stint led him to a career of helping people. Fred became a EMT, then a EMT and CPR Instructor. His move to Florida in 1975 coincided with that of his then retiring parents. Upon his arrival, he promptly set out to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and commenced working in both, hospitals and nursing homes. In essence, those moves put Fred firmly on his career path of further helping and taking care of people in need.
He preferred working with the elderly in nursing homes, no doubt dispensing doses of positive reinforcement and encouragement to the residents on a daily basis. Fred believed he could make the biggest impact in nursing homes. His next achievement was becoming a certified MDS (Minimum Data Set) coordinator. With that certificate under his belt, he proceeded onto a lengthy career which included working at Parkway Nursing Home and the Laurelwood Nursing Center in Pinellas Park. At those facilities, he enjoyed the daily satisfaction of helping the residents cope. He helped them make it through their long days, helped them address their problems, and made tomorrow look brighter than today.
Fred's tenure in nursing care was a fruitful experience. Not only did he reap the rewards of his effort but it was at Parkway Nursing Home where he met Kathy, the dietician, who became his second wife. Fred moved onto Laurelwood and remained until his illness forced retirement in 2003. The illness, which was diagnosed as Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, began to take its toll. So, after nearly two decades of taking care of others, it was Fred who needed the helping hand. He became a regular, in and out, patient at the Bay Pines VA Hospital. According to Fred, they did not let him down and he spoke highly of the hospital and its personnel thoughout his ordeal.
While battling the health issues, Fred kept busy with his sports collection. He collected, bought and sold, football and baseball cards over the internet and boasted owning over 600,000 cards. He also boasted being a life-long Pittsburgh Steelers football fan. And that was easily confirmed by this writer who, on a recent surprise visit to Fred's home after not seeing him for over 45 years, found him proudly wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Champions T-shirt. It's often said by so many Pittsburgh transplants that, "you can take the person out of Pittsburgh, but you can't take Pittsburgh out of the person. It was clearly evident that Fred's Steelers were part of that lasting Pittsburgh package.
Fred had a best friend named "Fergie," who he loved dearly. "Fergie" was his buddy. At Fred's request, the remains of his friend, who died in 2005 at age 14, will be buried with him. "Fergie" was the pet dog, an old English Sheepdog. It's goes without saying that, in addition to his love of sports, cars and caring for others, our friend loved animals, too.
During the March visit, Fred expressed his desire and interest in attending one of our class reunion gatherings but, he said, "I think I can make it, and then, I just know that I don't have the strength and endurance to do it. I wish I could. Tell everybody hello and that I love them!"
Fred will be missed greatly but he will be remembered forever...
He is survived by wife Kathy (Pinellas Park, FL), his new pet dog and friend "PatC" (Pinellas Park, FL), son Kevin (Atlanta, GA), daughter Kelly Pridgen (Aiken, SC), step-daughter Melissa Bigelow (Pinellas Park, FL), three grandsons and one great-grandson. A Memorial Funeral Service and Interment was held at the Bay Pines National Cemetery in Bay Pines, FL, and Fred was honored by the presence of two U.S. Air Force Officers. All of the arrangements were entrusted to Veterans Funeral Care of Clearwater, FL. Should you wish to express your condolences to Fred's wife and family, please send to: Kathy Tryner, 6900 78th Avenue North, Pinellas, Park, FL 33781...
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