Frederick John Heyrich

Frederick John Heyrich, age 90, of Amarillo, TX died Sunday, December 3, 2017 at BSA Hospice of the Southwest. He was born in 1927 in Caldwell, NJ. He is the son of the late Frank A. and Irene (Sphar) Heyrich. He graduated from Grover Cleveland High School and attended Montclair State Teachers College. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, then graduated from Seton Hall University in 1950, and also did graduate studies at Rutgers University. He loved science, music, and art. He married Priscilla (Bradley) Heyrich Jan. 26, 1952. She predeceased him in 2004. He was employed by Lederle Laboratories, St. Anthony's Hospital, and later sold insurance and medical electronics. He had great interest in computers and the internet as they came into popular use. He created his own business in the early 1990's. He invented products for oil spill cleanup which are still in use today. He is survived by two daughters: Elisa Pardo and her husband Kenneth and Karla King and her husband Jerry. He is also survived by two grandchildren: Benjamin King and Julia Pardo. A memorial service will be held Dec. 16 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Amarillo. His ashes will be interred at a later date in Llano Cemetery with those of his wife with bronze memorial plaques on a single granite base. Brief Biographical The Life of Frederick J. Heyrich Early Life Not a stranger to adversity, my father almost drowned at age 6. He broke his neck falling off a horse at age 11. He grew up during the Great Depression. He received Jesus Christ as his personal savior at the age of 6 as a result of attending a Baptist gospel meeting. As a child, he told others about his salvation experience. Education He went to school when he was four years old. Being large for his age, he could pass for six. He explained as an adult: "My mother didn't know what else to do with me." Being around the older children no doubt helped his development in many ways. He graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in Caldwell, NJ and studied a science-heavy curriculum at Montclair State Teachers College, Upper Montclair, NJ. He interrupted those studies to serve in the Army Air Corps, and for part of that time was assigned duties in the Philippine Islands. After returning to civilian life, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950 from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. Thereafter, at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ he completed graduate studies in animal nutrition, finishing there in 1952. Marriage and Children He married Priscilla H. Bradley on January 26, 1952. They were married for 53 years. His wife predeceased him in 2004.He is survived by two daughters: Elisa Pardo and her husband Kenneth and Karla King and her husband Jerry. He is also survived by two grandchildren: Benjamin King and Julia Pardo. Career Path He worked at Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River, NY in technical product development until 1963. He then worked at St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo, TX as a biochemist overseeing laboratory procedures and also including pulmonary research in coordination with physicians, until 1965. He then got into sales and worked for insurance companies and, later, medical electronics companies until he decided to create his own business in the early 1990's. He invented products for oil spill cleanup and repair of salt-damaged soil using microbiological principles of decontamination. Those products are still in use today. Interests and Hobbies Science biology, chemistry, astronomy, in short, he was interested in all wonders of God's creation and man's invention. He never lost interest and a sense of wonder in learning new things. When computers and the internet came into widespread use and popularity, he jumped in wholeheartedly and spent a lot of time online teaching himself microbiology. Music piano, organ, singing ... classical to jazz to popular Art sketching with charcoal and pastels; photography Miscellaneous chess and crossword puzzles; science fiction and classic movies. He always had a special connection with horses, dogs, and all animals under his care. SERVICES Memorial Service Saturday, December 16, 2017 11:00 AM Trinity United Methodist Church Amarillo, Texas