Obituary of Fredric J. Vinick

Fredric J. Vinick, age 65 of Halfmoon, NY, died peacefully on Saturday, September 22, 2012 surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Born in Amsterdam, NY, on June 18, 1947, son of the late Louis and Margarete Schiller Vinick, he spent his early years in Schenectady. He graduated as Valedictoiran from the former Linton High School in Schenectady, and then continued his education, earning a Bachelor's Degree and Phi Beta Kappa Award from Williams College in Williamstown, MA. He next earned a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Yale University. He did post doctoral work in chemistry under a fellowship at Columbia University. He then worked in Pharmaceutical research and Drug Discovery at Ciba Geigy Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and retired in 2007 as Senior Vice President of Medicinal Drug Discovery and Development from Genzyme Corporation. He contributed to patents on drugs and publications on medicinal chemistry. Fred was a member of ACS, the American Chemical Society. Fred had a wonderful sense of humor. He had a vast knowledge of trivia, especially pop music of the fifties and sixties. He also deeply loved playing classical piano throughout his life. Fred was a member of both Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady and Congregation Agudat Achim in Niskayuna Fred is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Silverman, of Halfmoon, NY, who he first met when they were 7 years old in second grade in Schenectady Schools. He is also survived by his children, Julie (Jeff) Aronwald of Rye Brook, NY, Peter (Megan Farrelly) Vinick of Raleigh, NC, and Andrew Vinick of Boston, MA; his grandchildren, Max and Henry Aronwald, and Anna and Elise Vinick.; his step-daughter Rachel (Bob) Pfanner of Niantic, CT; and his former wife, Carol Vinick of Marmaroneck, NY. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Larry and Rise Routenberg of Niskayuna. He was predeceased by his parents, Louis and Margarete Vinick, who owned the former Vinick's Men's Shop in Schenectady. Services will be held at Congregation Agudat Achim ,2117 Union Street ( Troy-Schenectady Rd,) in Niskayuna on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 2:30pm Interment will follow in the Agudat Achim Cemetery on Schermerhorn Street in Rotterdam (off Carman Road) In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Fred in a special way may make a memorial contribution in his name to Schenectady Free Health Clinic,600 Franklin St, Schenectady, NY 12305, or Jonesville Food Pantry,963 Main St. Clifton Park, NY 12065-1011. The period of mourning will be observed at the Vinick-Silverman residence, 4 Camden Court in Sheldon Hills, Halfmoon ( Mechanicville) on Sunday and Monday evenings commencing at 7:30pm The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Susan Weaver and Dr. Matthew Adamo, both at Albany Medical Center Hospital and Dr, Phillip Marra at Ellis Hospital, as well as the wonderful staff at both Albany Medical Center ICU and The Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital.