Frederick Hans Sindel, 87, of Wilton Connecticut entered eternal life on July 5th surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of the late Carole Sindel, with whom he shared 62 years of marriage.

Fred was born in Brooklyn, NY. He was the only child of the late Hans and Babette Sindel. His parents were immigrants who came independently from the Bavarian region of Germany in the mid 1920's.  Fred grew up in Flushing NY where he spent his childhood playing stickball and taking accordion lessons until he was 16 and started playing gigs in NY soon afterwards. He played his famous "squeeze box" with the Dave Jarvis Quartet in the 1960s and made countless memorable appearances at birthday parties, weddings, Oktoberfest celebrations, retirement parties, and nursing homes. He had a creative talent for taking a hit song and twisting the lyrics to make the honoree(s) feel extra special which was always a huge hit.

Fred, AKA "Call me Hans", graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and continued his education at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (now known as the Polytechnic Institute of NYU) where he earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree. He later earned a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute while working for General Electric. He began a distinguished career at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna, NY. Knolls was operated by GE to design and test nuclear reactors that power our nuclear submarines and other US Navy vessels. It was during this time that he met and married the love of his life, Carole. Both only children, they decided to have a big family and took in several beloved pets along the way. Fred's career with GE took him to Fairfield County where he spent most of his career making lasting contributions in Engineering, Mergers & Acquisitions, Venture Capital, Information Technology, and Finance. He was also on the leading edge of devising the "remote workforce" decades before any of us even heard of the term.

Fred was very passionate in his Christian faith and was actively involved in Grace Community Church where he found joy in teaching Sunday school and participating in Bible studies. His commitment to service extended to his involvement with Wilton Kiwanis. Fred was a key contributor for their annual citrus sale to support the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. He also brought the citrus drive to Grace Community Church and continued raising funds for the BRM. He was delighted to see the difference these efforts made in the lives of those less fortunate.

An avid history buff, Fred had a deep respect for veterans and took great pride in his support for their sacrifices. He loved spending his summers at Galway Lake, particularly in the boathouse, a family hangout which he proudly built (with some help from his family and friends).  His passions ranged from a wager or two (OK maybe more) at the Saratoga horse racing track, to discussing politics. For many years, Fred and Carole hosted an annual Bavarian themed Travers Party complete with Fred's favorite German foods. Many evenings were spent playing a fun card game of Hearts with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed trips to Europe to spend time with his beloved extended German family, and visiting World War II historic sites.

Fred cherished his family and loved supporting their interests and passions. He was especially proud of his wife, Carole for her compassion to all and devotion to family.

Fred is survived by his four children Lori (beloved late husband Dennis) of Wilton, Ct, Karl and wife Bonnie of Niskayuna, NY, John and Gigi of Redding, CT, Lisa and husband Kevin of Bethel, CT, and seven grandchildren; Tyler, Brooke, Tate, Jamie, Samantha, Dylan, and Sean. He also leaves his precious dogs Elsa and Buddy, his loyal Dalmatian and German Shepard.

Fred will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He leaves a lasting legacy of wonderful memories for his family and friends. In his own words, 'Life is Fragile, Be Ready.' This quote encapsulates his wisdom and foresight, reminding us all to cherish every moment.

Unfortunately, Grace farms is no longer able to accommodate the celebration of life in Fred's honor.  We invite Fred's close friends and close friends of the family to join us for his burial at Hillside Cemetery, 165 Ridgefield Rd, Wilton, CT 06897 on Friday July 26th at 11am.

The previously planned upstate NY service for Carole in July for lifelong friends and family will now honor both Carole and Fred. Additional invitations to be sent.

In lieu of flowers, Fred expressed a wish for donations to be made in his memory to one of the following charities that were dear to him:

Bridgeport Rescue Mission https://give.bridgeportrescuemission.org/

Animal Protective Foundation https://www.animalprotective.org

Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary https://ofsds.org/

For online condolences please visit www.boutonfuneralhome.com