[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 103 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO FRED SHONEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. NORMAN D. DICKS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 2002

  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month one of the most visionary 
builders of my home community of Bremerton died, leaving a legacy of 
public works improvements that made the City a better place in which to 
live and work. Fred S. Shoneman spent the early part of his career 
working for the City of Bremerton, serving for a long tenure as the 
Public Works Commissioner. Later he served for many years as a 
Commissioner of the Port of Bremerton. During this time, I enjoyed 
working with him and I was always impressed by his vision and his 
desire to solve problems that confront cities in transition such as 
Bremerton. Fred loved Bremerton for what it was, and even more 
importantly for what it could be--and that was the secret of his 
vision. As Public Works Commissioner, he oversaw the locations of 
bridges that were essential for the growth of the city and its major 
public employer, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. He took care of the public 
works needs of our neighborhoods and small business districts, and he 
made sure the city's infrastructure was kept up to date. His later 
contributions as Port Commissioner represented an era of growth for 
Bremerton National Airport as well as a time of substantial new 
construction at the marinas. In all of these works he was serving the 
public: he was a man who was constantly available and seeking input 
from citizens in order to do his job better. What was most remarkable 
about Fred, and what was certainly evident at the Memorial Service held 
at the Manette Community Church, was his positive attitude that was 
almost contagious. Everyone who worked with him and around him 
appreciated the way he was always more focused on how we CAN get things 
done, rather thinking up reasons why we should not. So in addition to 
his legacy of public works, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to note today in the 
House of Representatives that Fred Shoneman has also left a great 
legacy of friendship in Bremerton. I am proud to say that I was among 
those who knew him, who worked with him, and who are greatly saddened 
by his passing. I would like to enter into the Record the full text of 
the news story in The Sun, Bremerton's daily newspaper, noting how much 
Fred left an indelible mark on our city.

                      CIVIC ICON LEFT MARK ON CITY

                         (By Elena Castanieda)

       Long-time Bremerton public servant Fred Schoneman died 
     Saturday.
       The 88-year-old succumbed to complications from asbestosis, 
     a lung disease, son Noel Schoneman said.
       As word spread Monday of Schoneman's death, his friends and 
     family recalled his sense of humor, love of music and 
     persistent work ethic.
       ``He was a great friend and a great friend to the city of 
     Bremerton,'' said local attorney Gordon Walgren.
       A city of Bremerton employee for 31 years and Port of 
     Bremerton commissioner for 12 years, Schoneman left his mark 
     all over the city, most notably with the Fred S. Schoneman 
     Overpass that connects 11th Street to Kitsap Way in 
     Bremerton.
       Schoneman worked for the city as a field engineer, then a 
     street superintendent and finally served as Bremerton's 
     public works commissioner from 1960 to 1978. His projects 
     included the original layout of the Warren Avenue Bridge and 
     the city's first two sewer treatment plants in 1948.
       He oversaw creation of Gold Mountain Golf Course, widely 
     known as one of the best public golf courses in the state.
       Schoneman also served as a Port of Bremerton commissioner 
     in two eras, first in the late 1970s and again from 1986 to 
     1997. During his tenure, the port made more than $4 million 
     in improvements to Bremerton National Airport and constructed 
     the Bremerton and Port Orchard marinas.
       Sometimes, his plans didn't work out. There was a proposal 
     to build a bridge to Seattle and develop a downtown shopping 
     mall.
       ``He was a very long-range thinker, a visionary,'' said Ken 
     Attebery, chief executive officer of the Port of Bremerton. 
     ``He was a kind and supportive person to the staff he worked 
     with here.''
       Schoneman stood more than 6-feet tall, bringing a 
     commanding presence into the many board, foundation and club 
     meetings he attended.
       ``He walked into a room and people knew he was there,'' 
     Walgren said.
       Port Commissioner Mary Ann Huntington said Schoneman 
     ``loved Bremerton more than anything else.''
       Huntington served with Schoneman, giving him his first 
     experience at working with a woman who was his equal, she 
     said.
       ``He wasn't excited to serve with a woman,'' Huntington 
     said. ``He didn't like women in politics. But we grew very 
     fond of each other.''
       Music was a passion for Schoneman, from his carillon bells 
     that chime in downtown Bremerton, to his talents playing the 
     accordion, harmonica, piano, organ and mandolin.
       ``He would take his accordion to conferences and entertain 
     us with it in the evenings,'' Huntington said.
       Schoneman collected life-affirming expressions.
       One written on the board room wall where he held public 
     works meetings read, ``Be not concerned, nor be surprised, if 
     what you do is criticized.''
       Son Noel said his father prepared family members for his 
     death in recent weeks by bringing them to his apartment at 
     Canterbury Manor for one-on-one talks.
       He remembered life growing up in the Schoneman house as 
     ``busy,'' but his father ``always found time for family. It 
     was at least a weekly event going to the local parks.''
       Schoneman knew sadness in his life, too. His first wife, 
     Margaret, passed away in 1972.
       Schoneman is survived by his second wife, Katherine Lee 
     Schoneman of Bremerton. Other survivors include one sister, 
     Alice Myhre of Bremerton; one son, Noel, of Sammamish; three 
     daughters, Mary Whittaker of Seabeck, and Sue Brannon and 
     Ellen Coombe of Bremerton; three step-children, Casimir 
     Farley of France, Sandy Schumacher of Bremerton and Don Smith 
     of Seattle; and six grandchildren and two great-
     grandchildren.
       A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. July 11 at Manette 
     Community Church, in the same neighborhood where he raised 
     his family.

     

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