Frederick B. Onderdonk
Frederick Bridges Onderdonk, who lived in Amagansett for many years before moving to Baldwinsville in 2008, died of an unexpected illness on Feb. 21 at Longwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce, Fla., surrounded by his family. He was 81 and had been vacationing in Vero Beach.
Mr. Onderdonk, a tenor, sang in the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church choir in East Hampton for 30 years, starting in the 1970s. A funeral will be held there at 11 a.m. tomorrow and he will be buried at St. Luke’s Memorial Garden.
“Throughout Fred’s life, his beautiful voice would resonate in the hearts of all he met, for he gave the gift of music generously. You could count on Fred to burst into melody at social Fred to burst into melody at social gatherings, restaurants, or passing pedestrians, and his audience was always appreciative,” his family said.
Mr. Onderdonk had been a lead soloist and boarding student from the third through eighth grades at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Choir School in Manhattan, from which he graduated in 1949. He went to Dwight Darrow High School and to Fairleigh Dickinson University. After graduating, he became a singer using the stage name Fred Todd. He sang on radio programs and was spotlighted in a few television shows. His favorite songs to perform were “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “A Foggy Day in London Town.”
After marrying the former Elizabeth Ruth Gordon on Oct. 27, 1957, Mr. Onderdonk became a sales executive. The couple met in the early 1950s on Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett; he was a Maidstone Beach lifeguard at the time. They moved throughout his career, living in Atlanta and Nashville as well as Huntington, but always returned to Amagansett for the summer. His father-in-law, Donald Gordon, who bought land in Amagansett in the 1920s where he built a house, later built another for his daughter and son-in-law. The couple eventually retired to Amagansett, where they lived full time for 30 years.
He was born on Jan. 18, 1935, in Englewood, N.J., to Gertrude Onderdonk and John Clark Onderdonk. Citing his many lifelong friendships, his family said he was “a loyal, loving friend, and always kept in touch.”
His wife survives, as do two children, Karen Blakeley of Foxboro, Mass., and Donald Onderdonk of Baldwinsville, and a sister, Sue Bach of Chapel Hill, N.C. Seven grandchildren and many cousins, nephews, and nieces also survive. In addition to his parents, a sister, Beth Walker, and a brother, Jack Onderdonk, died before him.
Memorial donations have been suggested to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at JDRF.org.
Elizabeth Siedsma
Elizabeth Ann Siedsma, a lifelong advocate for dogs, cats, and wildlife, died on Feb. 24 at The Springs at Lake Pointe Woods nursing home in Sarasota, Fla. She was 96.
The daughter of James S. Rice and the former Mabel Jones, she was born on April 8, 1919, in Utica, N.Y., and lived for a time in Los Angeles before coming to the East End to be near a daughter. She lived in Sag Harbor for five years and in East Hampton for a decade.
After moving to Florida, she returned to the East End every summer until a few years ago.
Her daughter, Gail Wroldsen of Sarasota, survives. A son, Gary (Bo) Siedsma, predeceased his mother in 2013, and a brother, Stanley Rice, died a year and a half ago.
A private memorial service will take place at a future date. Memorial donations have been suggested to the Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741, or to a canine rescue organization of the donor’s choice.