CARIBOU and BELFAST - Dr. Frederick James Gregory, 87, left this wonderful life March 19, 2012, surrounded in the love of his family and dear wife, Elaine. He was born July 13, 1924, in Caribou, to Dr. Frederick Leslie and Estelle Mae (Brooks) Gregory; his father was a World War I veteran and a doctor who was a founder of Cary Memorial Hospital, Caribou. His mother, Estelle, was a teacher and an accomplished pianist who played accompaniment during the silent movie era. Fred was the fourth and youngest child, and spent his boyhood years exploring the rolling hills of Caribou and the shores of Madawaska Lake. He was raised in a family of musicians. Many evenings were spent with Estelle and his sister Marie on the piano, his brother Phil on saxophone, and Fred on the clarinet. He enjoyed classical music all his life. He passed this legacy on to his own children and always enjoyed sitting nearby while they jammed through various tunes on guitar and piano. Never once did he ask for money back on the lessons he invested in them! He attended Bowdoin College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1945. He received his medical training at McGill University, Montreal, and graduated with a Doctorate of Medicine and Surgical Medicine in 1948. It was in Montreal where another passion was ignited, and he met the love of his life, Elaine Hammond. Fred and Elaine were married in 1949. Dr. Gregory interned in surgery at Hartford General Hospital and completed his surgical residency at Worcester City Hospital in Massachusetts. He was a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve beginning in 1946, and in 1951, he joined the Navy, and traveled on Capt. Richard Byrd's second expedition to Antarctica. He was the ship's surgeon and chaplain. A subsequent tour sent him to the Arctic on the USS Edisto in 1955, making him truly one of few people to travel to both poles. In 1956 he returned to Caribou with his family to set up practice in the footsteps of his father. There Fred and Elaine raised their six children and enjoyed many happy years. Dr. Gregory was beloved by his patients and the staff at Cary and was known for his listening and caring. He was the last of a breed who accepted fresh vegetables or eggs for payment, made house calls, and rounded on his patients every Christmas morning. Throughout his life, Fred enjoyed the lake and had camps on Mud Lake, Cross Lake and Swan Lake in later years. In the 1970s, he joined up with old pals Sheldon Scott and Sterling Tibbetts and became an avid canoeist and pioneering snowmobiler. His love for wild places pushed him along the Allagash, St. John and Aroostook rivers, and all the snowmobile trails between Caribou and Quebec. Fred and Elaine built a beautiful Woodland home in 1979, and he retired from his practice in 1983. He then planted 10,000 Christmas trees to keep himself busy in retirement. He enjoyed 25 years of farming, travel, and family visits in Woodland. In 2001 he and Elaine moved to Swan Lake near Belfast to enjoy their golden years with their children and grandchildren. Doc made friends wherever he went, and he became a familiar smiling face and neighbor on West Mallard Lane. He was a lifelong member of Holy Rosary Parish, Caribou, and St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Belfast. He was a member of Caribou Rotary Club. He loved to play bridge and was a competitive sportsman, an accomplished golfer, tennis and ping pong player, and skier. He will be well-remembered for his keen mind and wry sense of humor. Fred is survived by his ever-patient and lovely wife of 63 years, Elaine of Belfast; his son, Kurt and fiancee, Gina Mingrone, of Fayette; his daughter, Christine Goldfrank and partner, Chuck Thomas, of Wayne; his daughter, Andrea Jarrett of Belfast; his son, Mark and fiancee, Debbie Scheid, of Dedham; his son, Dana of Caribou; his daughter, Leslie and friend, Ray Wirth, of Swanville; his grandchildren, Silas Goldfrank of Kingfield, Ira Goldfrank of Sebago Lake, Audrey Elaine Jarrett of Lexington, Ky., Benjamin Frederick Gregory of Newport News, Va., and Baxter Gregory Smith of Swanville; many devoted nieces and nephews; and dear friend and brother-in-law, Wally Jaeger of Palmyra, Va. Frederick was predeceased by his father and mother, Frederick and Estelle Gregory, his brother, Philip Gregory, his sisters, Patricia (Gregory) Weaver and Marie (Gregory) Jaeger. He will be deeply missed. "We shall not look upon his like again." Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Friday at Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir St., Caribou. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at Parish of the Precious Blood Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Caribou. After the service all are invited to a time of continued fellowship, refreshments and sharing of memories of Dr. Gregory at the Chan Center at Cary Medical Center. Friends who wish to contribute in memory of Dr. Gregory may do so through Jefferson Cary Foundation at Cary Medical Center, P.O. Box 89, Caribou, ME 04736.
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