Fred Wibiralske died peacefully at home on Monday, May 24, 2021, with family at his side. He was 94 years old.
Born on Dec. 15, 1926 in East Orange, N.J., Fred was the son of Charles Wibiralske and Estelle Harrison Wibiralske.
He was a systems analyst for Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River.
He was predeceased by his wife Mary and his sister Jane Knudsen.
Fred and his beloved wife Mary moved to Monroe in 1956 and started their family. Fred actively participated in local and regional civic, environmental and social justice issues.
He served as president of the Board of Trustees of the Ramapo Catskill Library System when the RCLS was chartered and was an active member of the Monroe Democratic Committee and served as chairman.
Over the decades, he attended and provided comments at numerous planning board and town board meetings, calling for environmentally sound growth and planning. He served on the board of Sterling Forest Partnership, advocating for the establishment of Sterling Forest State Park and participated in the citizen opposition to the Storm King Mountain power project.
He was a founding board member of Rural and Migrant Ministry and served as treasurer of the Family Health Center of Orange and Ulster Counties.
Fred and Mary were pillars of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Highland Mills, where Fred served as warden, member of the vestry, lay reader and chalice bearer. He served on Episcopal Church committees in Orange County, the Mid-Hudson Region and at the Diocesan-level in New York City. He was a trustee of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and received the Bishop’s Cross in recognition of his service in his community and in the Episcopal Church.
Fred loved art, history, and music and avidly attended museums and concerts in NYC, in the Hudson Valley and beyond. He was an enthusiastic tennis player and swimmer; a long-time member of the Monroe Tennis Club and, along with Mary, led community swim programs.
Fred proudly served his country in the U.S. Army in 1945 and 1946.
Fred is survived by his children Charles Wibiralske of Jamaica Plain, Mass., James Wibiralske of Highland Mills, Anne Wibiralske of Monroe and Betsy Muellenbach and her husband Mark of Slinger Wisconsin, and four grandchildren: Teresa, Charlotte, Clare and David.
A Funeral Service followed by a reception will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 10, at St. Mary’s-in-Tuxedo Episcopal Church in Tuxedo Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rural & Migrant Ministry, Inc., PO Box 475, Cornwall on Hudson, NY 12520 and Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.
Arrangements by Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home (845-782-8185 or www.ssqfuneralhome.com).