Fred L. Drotar

Fred Drotar

08-16-1930 – 07-07-2024

This past Sunday, Fred Drotar passed away at home in Newport, Michigan, with

his sons, Tom and Bill, and daughter, Mary, by his side, just short of his 94th

birthday. His incredible journey started in 1930 in Detroit, along with 11 brothers

and sisters. Times were hard, but he made the most of it by working various jobs

to help the family during the Depression. When he turned 20, he was drafted into

the army and, after his discharge, married his neighborhood sweetheart, Adeline

Carroll. They remained married for 68 years until her death two years ago.

By 1960, Fred and Adeline had four children, and he was working various jobs

while attending night school at Lawrence Tech on the G.I. Bill. He earned a

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, then a Master’s in Systems

Engineering. In 1962, he received his first break and became a test engineer at

Ford Motor Company. He quickly moved up the ranks because of his smarts and

tenaciousness, and by 1964, he earned a major promotion - a big deal for a

nascent engineer. He wouldn’t stop there - and by the time he retired in 1995, he

was the program manager of the Windstar vehicle.

During all of this, Fred picked up his first camera in 1965 and never put it down

again. Ever. He definitely had a knack for capturing a moment on film, and his

photos were featured in various magazines and newspapers. In 2017, he had his

first one-man photography show. Birds are what captured his eye and his

ultimate passion was for exotic ones found in the swamps of southern Florida, or

regal Osprey here in southeast Michigan. Fred could always be found wandering

fields with his camera and huge lens, looking for that perfect shot.

Fred also traveled the world, whether on tours with his wife or trekking

Annapurna, Nepal, with his daughter Mary. He was never bored and instilled this

trait in all his children. They each emulated his passion in their own ways and, in

doing so, had richer, fuller lives because of it. They will miss their father terribly

but will always see his handprint on each of their accomplishments. His life was a

life well lived, and one cannot ask for more than that.

Visitation will be held at Martenson / Allore Funeral Home on 203 E. Elm Ave.,

Monroe, Michigan, on Thursday, July 11, 2024, from 3 PM-7 PM, with the rosary

at 6 PM.

The Mass will be held at St Charles Church in Newport on Friday, July 12, 2024,

at 11:00 AM.