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Frederick Olympia - Class of 1949

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 17/Jan/2026
71.223.143.162

    Frederick Dominick Olympia, age 94, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family and caregivers, on January 15, 2026.
Born on December 31, 1931, in Newburgh, New York, Fred was the eldest of two children born to Dominick and Eugenia Olympia. One of the first in his extended family to attend college, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University in 1953-a milestone that marked the beginning of a distinguished professional career.
In May 1954, Fred married his college sweetheart, Marilyn Reinhart Brady of Buffalo, New York. Shortly thereafter, they began their life together at Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Dix, New Jersey, while Fred served in the United States Army. Following his honorable discharge, he joined Corhart Refractories, a subsidiary of Corning Glass Works (now Corning, Inc.), in Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked as a Ceramic Engineer.
When Corhart Refractories was acquired by Saint-Gobain in the late 1980s, Fred continued his career with the company until his retirement in the mid-1990s. During his tenure, he was awarded patents for an Electric Melting Furnace (U.S. Patent No. 3,752,895) and a Fused Cast Refractory (U.S. Patent No. 4,107,255), reflecting his innovation and dedication to his field.
Mr. and Mrs. Olympia shared a lifelong love of the Performing Arts and were patrons for many years. Among his favored hobbies, Fred enjoyed wine making and was a great admirer of opera and classical music. He also enjoyed the occasional baseball game, a sport he was an enthusiastic fan of in his youth. One of his favorite stories, often told, was the time he and friends spotted Joe DiMaggio going into a neighborhood bar & grill while in Newburgh for a charity fundraising event.
In retirement, Fred and Lynn-herself a retired archivist, avid antique collector, and Founder of the Alexander Hamilton Historical Society of Kentucky-enjoyed many years of travel and shared pursuits. They particularly cherished trips to Italy and frequent visits to Florida, embracing life together with curiosity and joy.
Frederick is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn; their three children, Thomas Christopher Olympia, Gregory Frederick Olympia, and Christine Lillian Olympia Butchko (Jerome David Butchko, Jr.); two grandchildren, Phillip Olympia (Jennifer) and Anthony Olympia (Katie); and two great-grandchildren, Freddie and Gus Olympia. He will be remembered for his intellect, perseverance, kindness, loyalty, and devotion to his family.
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