Frederick Mayr was born on October 24, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan to Oskar Mayr and Dora Iffland Mayr. He passed away on September 1, 2016 at Melech Hospice House in Tampa, Florida. He is preceded in death by his sister Elfrieda (Max) Kuehnlenz and son Frank Mayr. He is survived by his daughter Karen Yanklowitz of Steilacoom, Washington; grandchildren Katherine Grace (Coss) Chan and her husband Michael, David Alexander Coss; and one great-granddaughter Eden Tovah Chan.
Fred enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1952, then subsequently re-enlisted. It was during his second enlistment that he applied and was accepted to Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Yorktown, VA. Throughout his career in the Coast Guard he was stationed in California, Alaska, Michigan (3 locations: Detroit, Grand Haven, and Cheboygan), Alabama, New York, and Chicago. He received his honorable discharge and retirement in 1974 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander (LCDR).
Accordianist Fred Mayr was raised in Detroit by a Swiss father and German mother. His style was influenced at an early age by a Russian music teacher, the recordings of Frank Yankovic, and the folk music of the German picnics and dances he attended as a boy while studying semi-classical music. After 22 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, Fred began playing tenor banjo in Dixieland and dance bands around Michigan’s Grand Traverse area, which has a large Polish population. Gradually he returned to the accordion, playing in local Polish polka bands and at German fests. In January of 1981 he came to Florida and was hired to play seven nights a week at the then newly opened “Matterhorn Hofbrau Haus” in Tampa, where he continued to perform for over three years. There he had the pleasure of working with a variety of renowned musicians including Frank Yankovic and trumpet player John McCoy.
In spring of 1984 Fred left the “Matterhorn” and formed his own band, including banjo and drums and occasionally a reed instrument or a tuba.
In the ensuing 20 years “The Band Called ‘FRED’ ” has played Caribbean cruises, Harbor Island, the grand ballroom of the Boca Raton Hotel, Stouffer’s Resort and the Marriot in Orlando; Boatyard Village Oktoberfest (4 years), West Citrus Sertoma Springfests and Oktoberfests (6 years), Homosassa Springs Elks Fest (2 years), The Pier in St. Petersburg, regular dances at the Polish clubs in St. Petersburg, Holiday, Vero Beach; Slavic, Slovenian and Lithuanian clubs; German clubs in Pinellas Park, Bradenton, Venice, Cape Coral, New Port Richey, Beverly Hills, Miami, Casselberry, Lake Worth; ballroom dances at a variety of public and private clubs; and restaurants in Clearwater, Daytona Beach, New Port Richey and Tampa.
A memorial service with military honors provided by the United States Coast Guard is scheduled for September 21, 2016 at 10:45 am at Bay Pines National Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at Melech Hospice House in Temple Terrace for the outstanding care they provided Fred during his final days. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Melech Hospice House and the American Red Cross of Tampa Bay.
Friends and family are invited to share a memory and sign his guestbook below.
This is a wonderful bio of Fred’s very full life. Thanks for sharing it. I will miss our “donut” chats.
Prayers for the family.
Fred’s neighbor,
Linda
Fred mentioned his full and interesting past only briefly. He was such an intelligent, current, well informed, opinionated conversationalist he preferred to discuss world events instead of himself. Thank you for sharing this fascinating history. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
Julia Thomas
Karen, Barney & family, We are truly sorry for your loss and our hearts are with you. We are happy that Fred passed from earth to eternity in a comforting and peaceful manner. The tribute to his life is very Honoring & Loving. Karen, you have been a precious daughter to your dad. He was indeed Blessed to have you in his life and especially during the final days of his life. We Love you very much. Love, Bruce & Kathie
I’m so sorry again for your loss. Sounds like he lived a full, musical life. He’s probably worshipping right now.
God bless you all,
Linda
Dear Karen, thank you for honoring us in sharing your Dad”s life with us since we did not know him personally. I can relate somewhat, I was holding my father’s hand when he slipped into eternity with Jesus. So I may understand what it meant for you to be there with and for your Dad
From Bob Hope’s old theme song, Thanks for the Memories. Enjoyed our chats on the front porch. Play well in your new Band and thrill the Angels. Thanks for your service to our country. For your family and friends my condolences and well wishes. Rest now, your neighbor and friend David
We’ll all miss you. Great musician and an even better person!
A very nice biography of his life. When I saw the band name “A BAND CALLED FRED”….I remember seeing him, at I believe the Dunedin Oktoberfest, & remarking what a great accordion player he was, along with the band they were ‘tight’!! I also am an accordion player with the band Northern Sounds, we played before Fred, that day. When a ‘gigs’ finished I usually leave, but I stayed to listen to their first set! During tear down, behind the stage, I wanted to pick up my accordion & play with him they were so good!!
Thanks for the great music, Fred!!
Rest In Peace!!
A fellow ‘boxman’!!
Fred will be missed. I played banjo in his band for 14 years. Those were the “good old days”. Rest in peace old friend!
I am sorry to learn of Fred’s passing. I spent many evenings playing Tuba at the Matterhorn with him. He was a friend of all Musicians and he will be missed. My prayers are for his family.
OCS classmate and SEBAGO shipmate. Our last words were harsh and, now, I will never get a chance to fix that. I liked and respected him.