Obituary of Frederick Frank Estabrook

Frederick F. Estabrook, 86, of The Frewsburg Rest Home, formerly of 435 Broadhead Ave. Jamestown, passed away at 2:20 a.m. Thursday (January 10, 2013) in W.C.A. Hospital. An area resident for most of his life he was born April 27, 1926 in Sayre, PA a son of the late Harold C. and Alleine Smith Estabrook. He was born on his mothers 29th birthday. Fred grew up in the small central New York hamlet of Newfield, near Ithaca, NY where his paternal ancestors settled in the early 19th century. He graduated from Newfield Central School in 1943 and immediately enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. In 1945, at the age of 19, he became one of the youngest Navy pilots to graduate from the Naval Aviation School in Pensacola, FL. After completing his enlistment as a fighter pilot at several east coast Navy bases and also aboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Saipan, he left active duty and returned home to Ithaca to attend college at Cornell University. However, with ongoing enlistment in the Navy Reserve, he was able to continue flying Hellcat and Corsair prop fighter planes as well as Banshee and Fury jet fighters. As an USNR "Weekend Warrior" he commuted one weekend per month to the Naval Air Station and later to an air base in Grosse Ile, Michigan where he flew helicopters until his retirement from the Naval Reserve in 1966 as a Lieutenant Commander. Mr. Estabrook earned his civil engineering degree from Cornell University in 1953 and at that time began his employment designing roads and bridges with the Chautauqua County Highway Department as a Junior Civil Engineer. In 1964, as Senior Civil Engineer, he was appointed Acting Highway Superintendent. He left this position due to illness but within a year returned to work again at the Highway Department as Senior Civil Engineer. He was Chautauqua County's first Director of Public works before returning in 1975 to the dual positions of Director of Transportation and Director of Engineering. He held these positions until his retirement in 1982. During his long and distinguished career as a civil engineer and an administrator in Chautauqua County, Mr. Estabrook had many significant achievements. Among them were: his role in bringing Cummins Engine Company to Chautauqua County. He was able to convince New York State to reconstruct Baker Street Extension and an obsolete bridge which were both needed to accommodate the heavy truck traffic. He was instrumental in convincing the state to upgrade a road and two bridges near the Welch Plant in Westfield. These actions and many others involving the improvement or complete reconstruction of roads and bridges did much for the economy of Chautauqua County and saved significant amounts of money for county taxpayers. He was a member of the Kidder Memorial United Methodist Church, the Jamestown Lions Club, the blind bowlers and served on numerous committee's during his employment with Chautauqua County. He also was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and the Girl Scouts. Surviving are his wife the former Lois Adams whom he married November 2, 1979, a son Frederick T. (Vicki) Estabrook of Ithaca, NY, two daughters Colleen (Barry) Brentley of Jamestown, NY, Joanne (Robert) Hunt of Margaretville, NY, two grandchildren Alex Estabrook of Bristol, CT, Taylor Brentley of Jamestown, three step-daughters Leanne (Terry) Austin of East Randolph, NY, Linda Kennedy of Jamestown, Lori Berggren of Fredonia, NY, eight step-grandchildren Chad, Hillery and Amanda Berggren, Kristen, Erika, Cody and Camden Austin, Tate Kennedy and a step great granddaughter Liberty Kennedy, a sister Agnes Turk of New Bern, NC, and two brothers Harold Estabrook of Whittier, CA, Louis Estabrook of Schenectady, NY. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife Geraldine Moore Estabrook who died in 1976, two brothers Francis and William Estabrook and a sister Jane Loveless. A private service will be held at the convenience of the family. Inurnment will be in the Lake View Cemetery. Visitation will not be observed. Memorials may be made to the Chautauqua Blind Association, 510 West Fifth St. Jamestown, NY 14701.