Obituary of Fred Remington Whaley

Fred Remington Whaley, Jr., beloved husband of Mary Ann Valaitis Whaley and father of Clark and Todd Whaley, passed away August 17, 2014 in Belfast, ME, at the age of 75. Fred was born August 5, 1939, in Buffalo, NY to Fred and Helen Whaley. His father was a chemist and his mother a school teacher and home maker. He grew up in a musical family in Kenmore, NY; his father and brother played violin, and Fred who was a gifted cellist and singer, was a member of multiple orchestras and singing groups throughout high school and his adult life. After graduating from Kenmore High School in 1957 he attended Cornell University where he sang with the Cayugas Waiters, an all male a capella singing group. He went on to graduate from the University of Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts and Juriis Doctorate. Upon graduation from law school, Fred remained in the Buffalo community where he met his future wife, Carolyn Bunting Whaley, and raised his two children. Fred was president of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY for over 30 years. He was also very active in the community where he was past presidents of the Buffalo Rotary Club, Buffalo Torch Club, Torch International, and the Erie County and New York State Cemetery Associations. He was also a member of the Amherst Symphony, First Presbyterian Church choir, Amherst Aces a capella singing group, and Master Chorale of Western New York. Fred was also an avid boater, and a member of the Buffalo Power Squadron and Buffalo Yacht Club. Fred and his present wife, Mary Ann Valaitis Whaley, a retired mezzo soprano and soloist, retired to Stockton Springs, ME, where they were members of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and Penobscot Bay Singers, as well as other community organizations. Fred is survived by his sons, Clark Whaley of Sparta, NJ and Todd Whaley of Las Vegas, NV; brother David Whaley of Pittsburgh, PA; step-daughter Rachel Valaitis of Stockton Springs, ME; and five grandchildren. He will be dearly missed and remembered by his family and friends for his kind and gentle heart, sense of humor, and love of life and family. A joint memorial service will be held for Fred on August 23, 2014 at 10:00 am at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Belfast, ME, along with his beloved wife Mary Ann, who recently passed away from cancer.