Fred Dole Passing

I am very sad to hear this.  I will contact Edie.  I first met Fred years ago when he did the photo work on my layout.   Very sad to hear.

That is very sad news.  I am sorry to hear that.  He and his family are in my prayers.

George

Our thoughts and prayers are with Fred & his family.

Very sad news....Fred was a great guy.....he will be missed.....a fellow Delta Lines fan......a great modeler and photographer. My condolences to Edie and his family.

Peter

Condolences to his family. He will be missed  but remembered for many years to come.

Deepest condolences from all of us at Nassau Hobby Center. Charlie....

Very sad....deepest condolences from us.

Sending prayers!

I am very saddened to hear this.  Speaking for myself, I miss Fred, and hope for nothing but the best for Edie. 

Jim Barrett

I am saddened to hear this news. I really didn't know him but I did talk to him through email once. He seemed like a great guy. He certainly was a talented photographer. My sincerest condolences to his friends and family.

Phil Gatto

What terrible news.  Very sorry to hear this.  Fred provided the best in photography services long before we all carried iPhone cameras in our pockets.  When a feature layout article included the byline "Photography by Fred Dole", you knew the shots were gonna be terrific.

Our little corner of the world just got a whole lot smaller.  

Condolences and prayers go out to Fred's family and close friends.  

David

Our thoughts and prayers sent to the Dole family.

Prayers go out to Fred and his family....very sad news...

Alan

Prayers to his family.

A wonderful train man.

Rest in peace, Fred

Gentlemen,

   As Jim B says, saddened to hear this, condolences to his family and wish the best for them.

PCRR/Dave

A great modeler, and owner of several of the original structures from the Delta Lines.    I hope the family will assure these are preserved, or sold to someone who understands their significance.  His OGR article on building a firehouse is my favorite article in all my OGR collection.  A top author as well as photographer and model builder.  Condolences to his wife, family and friends.

          Logan

Prayers for the family.  RIP.

We send out our sad condolences and our prayers to Edie and Fred's family, the model railroad hobby has lost a great man and photographer.  Yes, always knew his name on any article meant it was the best.  He is greatly missed.

Hear that Lonesome Whistle blow........

Jesse Beatty

TCA 12-68275

Our prayers and sincerest condolence go out to the Dole family. I knew Fred, spoke to him on many occasions and exchanged emails with him. Fred unfortunately suffered with colon cancer and underwent a colostomy several years back. Fred Dole was a nice guy and I did some business with him. He was very helpful providing information on the historic Delta lines layout for which he took a profound interest in. He owned many of the original structures and provided me with pictures and some great information on them that enabled my Delta Lines recreation layout to be constructed.  Fred was great photographer,  a dedicated model railroader, family man of faith and a Christian Minister. While his family is grieving they can  rest in the comfort of knowing that that the good Lord has welcomed him to heaven. RIP Fred, you will be missed, but we will shake hands again one day friend!

Very sad news!  Fred's photos were one of the main reasons I first subscribed to OGR back in 1990.

Condolences to his family, friends and former co-workers at OGR.

Curt

My sincere condolences too! RIP and High ball to your new life!

REST IN PEACE FRED YOU WERE A GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR THIS HOBBY!

Fred's quality photographs played an important part in my opening up the boxes, in the '90's, of Lionel pieces from my post war childhood I'd packed away in 1970.  The potential that existed to once again enjoy the trains and the introduction to what others were doing on the various levels of this hobby rekindled my interest.  It is a pleasure that continues today, in no small part thanks to Fred.  May I tip my hat in gratitude and memory.  It's been nice to share the ride.

Richard Snipes

So sad to hear. He is going to be missed by all. 

Very sad news.  Fred shot my layout. He was a professional and paid attention to detail.  Condolences to his family & friends.  Definitely one of the good guy's in the hobby. 

Very sad news.  We spent 3 days with Fred and Edie when he shot my layout. Seeing we weren't to far apart travel wise they rented a site at a nearby campground. We shot the layout and ate meals right at the house. Fred even taught me a little bit about photography. I had read Frank Ellison's book numerous times and Fred also shared an interest in his work. My wife Denise really enjoyed Edie's company and Fred was a pleasure to work with. Just a great couple. Very down to earth and easy to talk to. My condolences go out to Edie.

Wow, this is unbelievable news.  I met Fred many years ago at York.  We will keep his family in our prayers, he will be missed very much. Thanks for posting.

Too bad.

I never met Fred, but I really enjoyed his layout photography in OGR and in CTT, he was the best IMHO.

Prayers and condolences to Fred and his family.

Another widely recognized name, who contributed much to this hobby ,and even if we had not met him,  a loss to us all. 

such sad news. I've missed the Fred Dole touch, and his wonderful pictures in the magazine.My thoughts and prayers to his family. I'll bet he'd bending Frank Ellison's ears!

I too was a fan of Fred's photography and articles.

Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Always sad to lose a solid person and very talented individual. I never met Fred in person, but spoke to him a few times around the time in '93 that he published my original short story, "The Christmas of '56" in OGR's December issue. Fred was generous with me and I appreciated his personable manner and creative outlook. Sincere condolences to his wife and family...

 I met Fred once at York and was touched that he remembered my name from the Forum. We lost another good one.  Thoughts and prayers for Fred's family.

Sad to hear of Fred's passing. R.I.P.

A shock to me.  I always enjoyed his writing and his photography.  I'm sure he is enjoying meeting his old train friends on the other side.  Good bye for now, Mr. Dole.

Always enjoyed his photos....I understand he was a fellow firefighter....Rest Easy Brother

Choo Choo Barn posted:

Edie Dole emailed me that Fred passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2016.  Here's a picture of Fred, doing what he loved, taking pictures.  Here he's doing a shoot at the Choo Choo Barn in 2009.

My condolences go out to Edie and the entire Dole family.

 

 

My sincerest condolences to the Dole family. Fred was a GREAT gentleman and was loved throughout the model train world.

sorry to hear of this

Very sorry to hear about Fred's passing, great guy.

Joe

As others have mentioned in their posts, I knew Fred Dole neither as “Mr. Dole” or “Fred.”  I knew him as “Rev. Dole” or “Lieutenant Dole,” or simply as “Ted.”  We met in 1986 when I moved to Colchester (CT).  In addition to a prolific and gifted photographer, Ted was also a volunteer fireman, MRT, pump operator and first responder.  He was also the minister of the church across the street from the firehouse, making him the de facto driver of the first due engine for most responses- and the fire chaplain as well.  Ted welcomed my wife and I into his church, and he and Edie were the first babysitters of our eldest daughter back in ‘88-90 or so.  That daughter was featured by “Fred M. Dole” on the subscription renewal cards that were stapled into O Gauge Railroading long before one could even imagine renewing a subscription online.  I last saw Ted in Nov-2015 and we enjoyed a stroll down memory lane together- topics from photography to trains to fire apparatus to faith.  Ted was a remarkable man, and all who knew him were blessed by him.  That said, behind every such man is one incredible woman.  Ted & Edie always reminded me that oft-quoted line from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” --- Ted may have been the head of the household, but Edie was the neck- often pointing Ted’s head in the right direction.  To Edie and family, please know you remain in our prayers. 

Just this morning I was reading a 2008 train article about Fred's layout...he was faithfully reproducing a town from Frank Ellison's Delta Lines, complete with original buildings from that famous layout - very enjoyable. I have OGR and OSR magazines dating back to the 1980s and Fred's contributions the hobby cannot be over-stated - his photographs and write-ups captured the essence of layouts and model railroading.

Weaver Guy,

   I agree 100%!  This is happening way to often now, our generation is fading badly.

PCRR/Dave