Fred Mather died June 10, 2018 at UW Hospitals after prolonged problems with heart and respiratory disease. He was 69 years old.
Fred was born on January 29, 1949 in Waupaca, Wisconsin, the third son of Marvin and Ann Mather. He was raised in Waupaca, attended local schools, before receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from UW Stevens Point in 1971. He was a member of the Waupaca Boy Scouts. In 1980 he moved to Madison, working in in-patient rehabilitation services before moving to Boulder, CO where he received his Master’s Degree in Buddhist Psychology from Naropa University. Upon returning to Madison, he began his career as an addiction counselor, working in local treatment programs until he retired. Fred had two previous marriages and in 1985 met Nadine Walsten and together they created a lifelong bond between them and her children, Aaron and Miriam Levenson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ann and Marvin Mather. He is survived by his brothers, David (Franca Agnello) Mather, Warren (Nancy Selvage) Mather, a nephew Eli (Phoebe Beierle) and great-niece, Quinn Mather; an aunt Linda Hill, uncle Harry Porter and aunt Judy, many cousins and dear friends. He is also survived by his friend Nadine Walsten, Aaron (Christi Balas) Levenson, Miriam (Kurt) Heungens -Levenson, and their children, Vanessa Levenson, Eva and Sara Heungens. Fred could not have lived so well and so long without the support and love of his housemate, Todd Burlingame, and Ben Altschul, Fred’s champion of goodness and love. Likewise, without his brothers in the Mens Recovery Group for over 30 years.
Fred was an unconventional individual – his big personality consisted of free spirit energy, joyfulness, compassion, wisdom, unconditional love and kindness and a loving heart always ready for some fun. He loved fishing, volleyball, disc golf, motorcycles, juggling, bluegrass music, and his Sunday night Open Mic at the Tip Top Tavern. His presence will be missed as quiet fills in the space he occupied.
Good bye Fred, your friends and family wish you peace on your new journey…