Fred Leland Trembly Ii

Fred Leland Trembly II, passed away at the age of 80 on February, 25, 2022 in Torrance, California at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital. Fred had been struggling with mobility issues due to an arthritic condition of the spine and dementia, spending his final months at a memory care facility in Redondo Beach where he was frequently visited by his brother Dennis and his wife Evangelina, his daughter Debra, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Born July 2, 1941 in Newport, Rhode Island to Fred Leland Sr. and Jewel Ferne Trembly, Fred was strong willed and passionate in everything he did. He was an avid chess player from a young age, playing with his friends for hours before they had to send Fred home when games would last into the wee-morning hours. He was sensitive to being a person of slender build, and he had a lifetime determination to be fit and strong, worked out diligently into his 70s. He also loved to snow and water ski which he later shared with his daughter Debra. Fred spent his life striving to be the best he could in all that he did.

Fred had a very special affinity for animals, especially reptiles. He had various dogs, a cat, and a pair of pet tortoises. In addition, Fred built an 8-foot-long terrarium box in the garage that housed various pythons, boa constrictors, gopher snakes, king snakes, iguanas, and other large lizards. Once a 3-foot-long Tegu lizard escaped into the neighborhood for a couple days, during which younger children were rarely seen outside until it was found to the relief of the neighbors!

Fred's sense of humor was a bit quirky, mostly at the expense of his brothers. Youngest brother Danny loudly ran from the bedroom one afternoon after investigating a "lumpy pillow" and found a sizable chuckwalla (lizard) under it. On another occasion, Dennis was perplexed about the taste of his freshly-made grape popsicles, until Fred stopped laughing long enough to explain that he had added Tabasco sauce before they froze.

Even though Fred worked hard and spent money reluctantly, he quietly showed great generosity. He had a strong connection with music, primarily jazz, and took piano lessons in high school. Younger brother Dennis made the decision prior to his teens to become a professional musician and practiced his first instrument, the accordion constantly. Only recently did Fred tell Dennis how much he enjoyed listening to him practice and witness first-hand the progress he was making. The growing need for instruments, lessons, music camps, etc. put a strain on the family budget. Unknown to Dennis at the time, Fred gave up his own piano lessons to free up money to allow his brother to pursue his music career. It was also very recently discovered that Fred gave his parents money to help pay for a surgery his brother needed in junior high school. Despite his gruff exterior, he had a big heart.

While still in high school, Fred learned to cut hair at the American Barber College along with his father. Brothers Dennis and Dan got their hair cut in the driveway of their home for a couple of years with their new long-term barber. Fred barbered professionally, eventually owning his own shop in Belmont Shore where he met his first wife Sherry when she brought her son in for his first haircut. When the haircutting business dropped off in the late 60s, Fred sold his shop and briefly worked as an oilfield roughneck in Long Beach.

Fred was married to Sherry Itson-Richards in 1961, and a couple years later they had a daughter Debra, who grew up with Terri and Ronald (Sherry's children from a previous marriage) in Lakewood. After Fred and Sherry divorced, Fred moved to Northern California and became a State Corrections Officer, first at San Quentin Prison and finished his career at Folsom. He shared his love of chess with the inmates, frequently playing games with them. While working up north, he married his second wife Ruth Brandon, but they no longer lived together after 2008.

After 27 years as a prison guard, Fred retired and worked as a security guard in a Native American gambling casino. When he discovered how much the card dealers were paid, he enrolled in dealers' school and eventually worked as a Black Jack dealer at Primm Nevada, and then went on to Las Vegas. Fred finally returned to his house in Orangevale, California and did free-lance dealing at parties with a group of friends for a while. He also enjoyed taking great care of his yard especially his apricot tree which was his pride and joy.

Fred was predeceased by his parents Fred and Jewel, his first wife Sherry, and youngest brother Daniel. He leaves behind his wife Ruth, brother Dennis (Evangelina), daughter Debra Kay and her siblings Terri (Fred) and Ronald (Perlita), grandchildren Bonnie, Jennifer (Eric), and Ryan, and great-grandchildren Dallas, Robbie, and Sophia.

Interment will be held at Forrest Lawn, Cypress from 12:30-1:00pm on August 3, 2022.