Frederick John Smigiel

Frederick John Smigiel, loving and beloved husband and father, (and consummate rocket scientist,) passed away following a sudden and brief illness on September 20, 2017 in Lone Tree, Colorado. Born on May 17, 1958 in Buffalo, New York, Fred was the son of Dolores (Gasper) Smigiel and Frederick Jacob Smigiel, both of whom preceded him in death. Fred earned his Civil Engineering degree from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Upon graduation, he was hired by The Boeing Company. He relocated to Renton, Washington and worked for Boeing for 5 years. Fred and his wife, Mary Grace Gutierrez (Grace), married in 1984 and shortly thereafter, moved to Denver where Fred began his aerospace career with Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin. At the time of his passing, he was employed with United Launch Alliance, and still loved launching rockets! Fred earned his pilot’s license while a teenager in New York, and took skydiving lessons and accomplished a solo jump while in Washington state. Fred served as a Cub Scout leader for his son’s troop, studied Tae Kwon Do with his children, where he and his son both earned Black Belts. He also volunteered for several years as a judge at the Colorado State Science and Engineering Fair. Fred was a voracious reader and took countless online and digital courses covering a variety of topics. (Almost) always a good sport, he tolerated countless evenings of chicken cacciatore while his daughter learned to chop a whole chicken while in culinary school, and endured many yarn and fiber festivals with his wife, a knitter. Fred is survived by his friend of 41 years and wife of 33 years, Mary Grace Smigiel of the home; sister Myra Snyder of Cherry Creek, New York; son Frederick Jason Gutierrez Smigiel of the home and Portsmouth, New Hampshire; daughter Jessica Megan Gutierrez Smigiel of the home and Littleton; Colorado, dogs Plugger and Dani, granddog, Maxine; and numerous extended family members. A party celebrating Fred and the numerous facets of his life will be held from 1 pm to 3 pm - with a brief statement and toast at approximately 2:00 pm - on Sunday, October 8, 2017 at the Lone Tree Brewing Company, 8200 Park Meadows Drive, #8222, Lone Tree, Colorado 80124. We will have food, beer and soft drinks, and share plenty of memories. Please, no outside alcoholic beverages permitted. The family would like to take this opportunity to thank ICU Nurses Amanda, Tessa, and Michelle; Dr. Zach Brown (Yeah!); Dr. Lopez, and the numerous professionals at Sky Ridge Medical Center Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit who helped us through this tragic and difficult time. Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Fred J. Smigiel to Colorado State Science Fair, Inc., C/O Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1802, Fort Collins, CO. Phone: 970-491-7716. Donations may be made in Fred's honor to the Colorado Science Engineering Fair by mail to Ms. Courtney Butler, Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1802, Fort Collins 80523 or online at ColoradoGives.org. Please share memories of Fred and condolences for his family by signing the guestbook below.