BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA - Frederick "Fred" Brenner Pope, III of Buckingham Township, PA died suddenly at home on Thursday, December 31, 2015. He was 64.

Fred was born in Queens, NY. His family resettled in East Islip, NY in 1957. He and his wife, Mary Joan Pope, purchased their first home in Wesley Hills, New York before relocating to Buckingham Township, PA in 1989. Fred was a loving husband, father, brother, mentor, and friend. His integrity, keen intellect, and goodwill were an inspiration to all who were close to him.

Fred had a distinguished academic and professional career. He was a varsity basketball player at Seton Hall High School in Patchogue, NY and graduated with High Honors in 1969. He subsequently attended Ohio Dominican University, transferring to Cornell University to finish his Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Science in 1973. While at Cornell, he belonged to the Kappa Alpha Society and was an active participant in Cornell s Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. He subsequently earned a Master of Science in Meteorology from Polytechnic Institute of New York University. He applied his education by becoming a sought-after expert in the permitting of power plants domestically and abroad. During the course of his career, he worked at Ebasco, Raytheon, Enser, and AECOM and his clients included Con Edison, Florida Power and Light, and the LI-NYC Offshore Wind Project. He charismatically motivated and mentored his colleagues, albeit tenderly and always with the goal of personal growth.

In addition to his career, he was civically engaged. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus of Sacred Heart Church in Suffern, NY. He served on the Wesley Hills Planning Board in the 1980s, and was Chairman of Buckingham Township s Planning Commission during the 1990s. He was a guest lecturer at the former Cook College of Rutgers University, where he enriched students knowledge with applied examples of environmental policy.

His hobbies were numerous. He was a lifelong member of the American Meteorological Society who reported rainfall as measured in his backyard rain gauge. He was an avid reader who enjoyed military history, particularly pertaining to World War II in which both his parents served. Each day started with reading the newspaper, and he enjoyed engaging in civil debates related to current events. He organically grew his own produce and hosted wildlife in his beautiful perennial and herb gardens. His lifelong quest for physical fitness included running, swimming, cycling, weight lifting, hiking, kayaking, and most recently, walking. As a fantasy sports player, he enjoyed watching both baseball and football games. When playing Scrabble and chess, he was a formidable opponent. He was also an avid photographer and a poet. In retirement, he poetically documented his travels abroad.

Fred was a noble man, a true gentleman, who put family first. He always made time to offer advice and express how much he cared. He is survived by his wife, Mary Joan (Gaynor) Pope, and his children, Allison Elisabeth Burger and her husband, Edwin IV of Birchrunville, PA and their children Madeline Luray, Ingrid Giegerich, and Edwin Raymond V; Colleen Meredith Pope and her partner, James Verzella of Collingswood, NJ and their child, Eleanor; Frederick Charles Pope and his fiancé, Amy Zeltwanger of Philadelphia, PA; sister Pamela Eubanks of East Islip, NY; his brother Michael Pope of San Jose, CA; and sister Susan Messina of Freehold, NJ plus many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held at the Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home, 344 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 on Monday, January 4th from 5:00-8:00 pm. Family members and friends will share memories at 7:00 pm.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 5175 Cold Spring Creamery Road, Doylestown, PA 18902 on Tuesday, January 5th at 11:00 am, where the family will receive friends from 9:30-11:00 am prior to mass.

Private cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to Habitat for Humanity www.habitat.org or Friends of the Delaware Canal www.fodc.org would be appreciated.

Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com