It
is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Fred A. Curran,
80, who died peacefully at the Residence at Quarry Hill in South
Burlington, Vt., on May 9, 2025.
Fred
was the beloved and loving husband of Ann (Bissonette) Curran, who
died in December of 2022. Theirs was a joy-filled marriage of 52
years and a wellspring of peace and comfort for Fred to the end of
his days. In his waning weeks, he often expressed his pleasure at the
prospect of being reunited with Ann.
Fred
met Ann when they were both college students in Rochester, N.Y.: he
at St. John Fisher College, she at Nazareth College. After Fred
received his graduate degree from Boston College, he and Ann married
in 1970 and found their true forever home in Burlington.
Fred
was hired by the University of Vermont right out of grad school and
became a highly regarded administrator, serving as director of
institutional research for more than 30 years, including a period as
assistant provost. It was said that any statistic one could want
about UVM (or the entire American educational system) could be found
at Fred’s fingertips.
He
held leadership positions on state and regional higher education
boards and commissions. Following his retirement, he served on the
executive board of UVM’s Retired Faculty and Administrative
Officers Organization.
He
was a man of many interests, ranging from an encyclopedic knowledge
of the First World War to mystery novels, cooking, travel and long
walks all over Burlington. His lifelong love of gadgetry meant that
if there was a new piece of electronic equipment you’d just heard
about, chances were that Fred already had it.
He
and Ann shared a love of birding and traveled the U.S., Canada,
Europe and even Sri Lanka in pursuit of species both domestic and
exotic. And you could be sure that Fred would be the birder with the
latest, most sophisticated binoculars (not to mention the field
jacket with the most pockets).
He
and Ann subscribed to the Opéra de Montréal and traveled there
often, though it could be said that the city’s many gourmet
international restaurants were an added draw for Fred. His love of
good food, great wines and well-made cocktails (especially perfect
Manhattans) was legendary.
He
was a great booster of UVM athletics, especially men’s basketball
and hockey. He and Ann were courtside regulars at Catamounts games
and at the Frozen Four playoffs.
If
a man’s life may be measured, at least in part, by how he made
those around him feel, then Fred’s life must be judged a great
success. His innate warmth and sociability made him a pleasure to be
with. Even when faced with his own health challenges, he found the
humor in life’s little ironies. He was a much-loved figure at
Quarry Hill and was famous for welcoming newcomers and helping them
get settled.
Fred’s
family would like to thank his many friends, most of whom had been
part of his life for decades, for their unending love and support.
Thanks also go out to his devoted caregivers; to the staff, nurses
and administrators at the Residence at Quarry Hill; and to the many
caring people at Bayada hospice.
Fred
was predeceased by his mother, Alma Ulber Indivino; his father,
Arthur Curran; his stepfather, Tracy Indivino; and uncles Alfred and
Robert Ulber and Maurius and Albert Centoz. He is survived by his
brother-in-law, Paul Bissonette, and wife Barbara Silvestri; his
niece, Maya Bissonette, and husband David Tamburin; his nephew,
Bohdan Bissonette, and wife Melissa and daughter Josie; his aunt
Bonnie Ulber; and by his cousins in New York, California and Arizona.
In
Fred’s memory, donations are encouraged in his name to Habitat for Humanity or HomeShare Vermont.
A
celebration of Fred’s life will be scheduled in the summer.