Dan Frederickson

Dan Frederickson

76, formerly of Libby

Dan Frederickson, DDS, 76, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2015, after living with diabetes for five decades. He spent his final days surrounded by family, friends and the extraordinary staff at the San Francisco VA Community Living Center.

Dan was born March 2, 1939, to Esther and George Frederickson. He grew up in Glendale, Calif., attending Glendale Union Academy where he excelled in school and all sports – especially as a downhill skier and golfer. He was a competitive golfer throughout his life and was runner-up to Jack Nicklaus in a national junior golf tournament. He attended LaSierra College and the University of California, Riverside. 

In 1962 he married Mary Conlee. Upon graduation from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force with a dental internship that took him to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, followed by three years in Hof, Germany as chief of dental services where his daughter Ann was born. In 1968 Dan returned to Texas where he earned a Masters degree in General Dentistry at the University of Texas. Dan was assigned to Travis AFB in California as director of General Dentistry Residency and chairman of the Department of Restorative Dentistry. He received an honorable discharge in 1971 with a permanent rank of Major. Dan taught at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, serving as chairman of the Department of Dentistry at the Illinois Masonic Medical Center. His daughter Heidi was born in 1972. For 20 years, Dan had a popular private practice in Libby, where his warm smile was his calling card.

Dan enjoyed fishing on the Yaak River, hunting, skiing, and of course golf. After his divorce, Dan moved to San Francisco in 1992 to teach at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry as an Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry. In 1997, he met Shirley Silvestri while picking up travel documents at her San Francisco travel agency. They married at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in 1999. They resided in Tiburon, entertained often and traveled the world.

Throughout his career, ”Dr. Dan” was admired for his knowledge, professionalism, good humor and generosity. 

He won the Student Body Award at UOP for teaching excellence in 1994 and 2000. He held memberships and leadership positions in multiple national dental organizations, including the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators, the American College of Dentists and, perhaps the most fun, the American Association of Dental Insultants. 

Although Swedish, Dan was gifted with a lovely Irish tenor voice and sang with the Marin Men’s Chorus, as well as various barbershop quartets, choral groups and church choirs. Dan was a member of Rotary International and the Kootenai Valley Shrine Club. He enjoyed acting as a docent at the Belvedere Tiburon Landmarks Railroad Museum.

Dan loved his patients, colleagues and making connections worldwide, but above all he loved his family.

Dan is survived by his wife, Shirley Silvestri; his daughters Ann Monkhouse (Scott) and Heidi Fahland Frederickson; his three grandchildren Aspen and Ian Monkhouse and Jake Fahland; his sister Gerda Fish (Warren); his former wife Mary Frederickson and Shirley’s children Russ (Beth) Silvestri, Laura (Jeff ) Partridge and her grandchildren Allie, Diana and Catherine Silvestri and Matthew, Nicholas and Katelyn Partridge. 

A memorial service will be celebrated at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 3 Bayview Ave., Belvedere on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association (Diabetes.org), the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society (landmarksso¬ciety.com) or a charity of choice.