Frederick Vincent Gifun

Frederick Vincent Gifun of Lakeland, FL was born August 11, 1939, and passed away on January 2, 2024, at the age of 84. He succumbed to non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, caused by an inherited auto-immune condition.

Fred lived a full life, starting with humble beginnings in Boston’s Jamaica Plain. He received his BA from Northeastern University, his Masters from the University of Oregon in Eugene, and then worked for three years at the Library of Congress in Washington DC, on presidential papers. He lived in Brazil for a year to work on his doctoral thesis, earning his PhD in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida at Gainesville.

His career at UMASS Dartmouth was mostly spent as a professor of Latin American and World history. He led various committees throughout his career, bringing a fair-minded and diplomatic approach. He also worked for a few years as Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences. Among his responsibilities was assisting struggling students, and in that role his caring manner and effective guidance helped many avoid expulsion, as attested to by the heartfelt verbal and written thanks he received from many of them.

Fred’s final contribution to the university came after retirement, as he was commissioned to write a book on its history, UMASS Dartmouth 1960-2006, Trials and Triumphs. He also authored the book New Bedford’s Church, about the historic First Unitarian Church in New Bedford, MA, of which he and his wife Evelyn were members for over 30 years.

He was musically gifted, starting to play piano by ear as a child. He loved jazz, swing dancing, intellectual discussions, and travel. After retiring, he enjoyed sharing his knowledge by teaching Lifelong Learning courses in Massachusetts and Florida. He also loved singing, always taking the harmony part until recent years. While occasionally playing piano and regularly singing in the small choir at Unity of Lakeland church, he found a new musical passion in singing solos. Other regular activities included tending to a vegetable garden, perusing the local newspaper and numerous magazines, and cooking up odd culinary combinations that somehow always worked.

Fred was predeceased by father, Alfred Gifun (1960), mother, Mary (Antosca) Gifun (1986), brother, Richard Gifun (2007), and sister, Dorothy Batista (2022).

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Evelyn Parrish Gifun (a Lakeland area native); their 2 daughters, Gina and Donna Gifun; 2 grandchildren, Robert Cook (Alyssa), and Skye Gifun; 3 great granddaughters, Coraline, Jasmine and Ariel; 2 sisters, Eleanor Dall and Mary Ann Gifun; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He is much loved for his friendly and caring nature, sense of humor and intelligent conversation, and will be dearly missed by his family.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 12 pm at Heartwood Preserve, 4100 Starkey Blvd., Trinity, FL 34655.

Celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 11 am at Heath Funeral Chapel, 328 S. Ingraham Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801, with a reception to follow in the Tribute Center at Heath Funeral Chapel.

For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed by going to Heath Funeral Chapel's website and clicking on the obituary for Mr. Gifun.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations that were important to Fred,

World Central Kitchen World Central Kitchen (wck.org),

www.sierraclub.org

Your local PBS station PBS: Public Broadcasting Service.