Fred Street

January 28, 1927 - October 20, 2022

Fred passed away peacefully at the age of 95 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Born in Long Beach, California, he enlisted in the Navy in 1944, completed electronic technical school, and during the war was assigned to teach the new technologies of sonar and radar for Fire Control Radar at Treasure Island. After leaving the service in 1947, he attended Heald Engineering College in San Francisco where he received a degree in Electrical Engineering. Fred joined a crew that hand-constructed San Francisco's KRON television station.

Fred married Barbara Ann Ertassi in San Francisco in May 1950. After daughter Vicki was born the family moved to Roseville, Minnesota in 1953 where Fred started a new career as Chief Engineer working for the Hubbard Broadcasting Company/KSTP TV. During his tenure KSTP received the first network colorcast on January 1, 1954 of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. And in 1961, Fred engineered KSTP's transition to the nation's first all-color television station. In 1962, Fred stood with Dr C Walton Lillhei as a KSTP crew filmed the first open-heart surgery. In 1972, Fred was hired by the U of M to update and run their Unite Instructional Television Program, transmitting two-way microwave broadcasts of advanced college courses to companies such as Honeywell, 3M, and IBM. He ran the station until his retirement in 1993.

Fred and Bobbie raised four children - Victoria Stumpf (Larry), Shelley Larson (Eric), Frederick G Street (Heidi), and Becky Street (Gregg Richmann) - in a Roseville neighborhood with wonderful neighbors and friends. He shared his love of the west and national parks with the family during road trips to California and summer trips to Minnesota's state parks, lake country, and especially Wallacks Resort in Crosslake.

He loved Barbershop singing with his friends - directing the chorus, singing in his quartet, participating in Harmony College, and acting as sound/light technical director for their annual shows.

In his later years he cared for Bobbie until her death in 2007 in her 77th year. He enjoyed companionship at EagleCrest Independent Living Community and served as resident AV expert and electronics technician for chapel services, movies, and musical programs. He also volunteered as pontoon captain at Johanna Shores. He then lived at Johanna Shores until, after several falls and a stroke, he died in his sleep. His four children and their spouses, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren will miss him dearly.

Star Tribune, October 30, 2022