Sherman Rockwell Fredrickson ’68

Sherman Rockwell Fredrickson ’68, M.D., died of esophageal cancer on January 24. As a medical professional, “Rocky” knew his time was up and spent the last few months of his life in his bucolic cabin on the Wenatchee River in Plain, Washington, with his beloved wife, Lynda. A native of Midland, Michigan, at Dartmouth Rocky played rugby and was a member of the DOC for all four years and a loyal brother of Chi Phi/Heorot. Following graduation as a history major Rocky joined the Peace Corps and served in Senegal and the Congo for three years. While focusing on smallpox eradication he looked like a physician to the locals and became a de facto caregiver. This stimulated Rocky’s interest in medicine, which he pursued by earning his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School. Rocky was always interested in community medicine, addressing the needs of under-served populations and better aligning the interests of medical professionals, patients, hospitals and government. He was the founding physician of the Pike Place Market Clinic in Seattle, chief medical officer of Providence Health Systems in the Northwest and most recently the managing director of physician integration of Integris Health in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. With his love of diverse cultures, languages and the natural world Rocky was a wonderful travel, trekking and fly-fishing companion. Those of us who were privileged to share some of his life will miss him. Rocky is survived by Lynda, children Jay and Eva, brother Jon, sister Terri, three stepchildren and two granddaughters.