Elizabeth A. Frederic

Elizabeth “Liz” A. Frederic, a leader in environmental education, passed away on January 11, 2015, aged 73, after a struggle with illness.

Frederic was born in 1941 in Long Island City, NY, and grew up in Floral Park, NY. She earned four college degrees: B.S. in Home Economics from State University of New York at Oneonta, B.A. in Geography from University of Maine at Farmington, M.A. in Nutrition from New York University, and M.A. in Geography from University of Connecticut.

She had a varied early career which included teaching home economics in Greenlawn, NY, working as a social services consultant for New York City, being a day care inspector in Nassau County, NY, and acting as office manager for her first husband’s chiropractic practice in Skowhegan, ME.

From 1994 to 2003, Frederic worked as adjunct geography faculty at the University of Maine at Farmington. During this time, she was Education Coordinator for the Maine Association of Conservation Districts and developed and strengthened the Envirothon Program for high school students. Her work in conservation and environmental education was recognized in 2001 when she received the Outstanding Forest Stewardship Award from the Maine Forest Service.

Meanwhile Frederic was a member of the Association of American Geographers and the New England–St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society, and served as Maine Geographic Alliance Advisor. She also owned Liz Maps, a cartography business, and published many maps.

She loved to travel, both for work and pleasure, visiting Cuba, the Caribbean, southern Africa, China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Europe and North America. She spent time at the University of Namibia and Beijing University of Technology acting as teaching assistant for her second husband. She participated in academic conferences around the world, presenting on topics as diverse as the reuse of dairy barns, water quality and African land ownership. Her professional publications were also varied, including work on the Cuban sugar industry, grazing systems in Namibia and Mongolia, and natural resource related education in Maine.

Closer to home, Frederic was a great supporter of community organizations and activities ranging from the state fair and cub scouts to the library and women’s club. She also loved gardening, cooking, reading, and time with the family.

Liz lived life as an adventure and will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her second husband, Dr. Paul Frederic, son Bradford Anderson, three step-children, and several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.