Person:Frederick Brandt (2)

About Fred Brandt

Frederick Stephen "Fred" Brandt was born 21 November 1928 in Los Angeles County, California, son of Stephan Josef Brandt (b. 1892 in Tovarnik, Slavonia, Croatia, d. 1981 in Burbank, California) and Elizabeth Pfaff (b. abt. 1908 in Ohio, d. 2003 in Canton, Cherokee County, Georgia). Fred's father worked as a tailor and costume designer for 20th Century Fox Studios in the 1930's and 1940's according to the U.S. Census and World War II Draft Registration Records.

Fred graduated from Burbank High School and began his career in the food industry with Ralphs Grocery Company as a box boy at its Burbank store. He progressed through the ranks from Clerk to Assistant Manager while he was taking extension classes at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Los Angeles City College.

In January 1956, Fred was promoted to Store Manager of the Ralphs location in Whittier, California and continued to manage several other stores over the next five years. He began his managerial deli career in April 1971 when he was promoted to Product Manager at Ralphs headquarters [then] at Third Street in Los Angeles, before returning to manage the Ralphs "Super Store" on San Vicente Blvd. and later the Sherman Oaks store.

Fred returned to Ralphs headquarters in 1975 as Administrative Assistant to the Senior Vice President and the following year, he was transfered to Ralphs Northern California division in Sacramento as City Manager and District Manager for nine stores. In September 1976, he became Dairy, Deli, Liquor Buyer/Merchandiser for the Northern Division and it was there that Fred became active in the Northern California Deli Council and was elected to its Board of Directors. When Ralphs sold its Northern California stores to Lucky Stores, Fred returned to Los Angeles as Ralphs Director of Manufacturing Sales - Deli Products, plus Outside and Export Sales. Later he became Deli Supervisor and then Eastern Division Sales Manager until he was named the Director of Food Service in October 1980, overseeing 53 or Ralphs Service Deli's and a restaurant called the "Deli Factory", located inside Ralphs store in Torrance, California. Later, Brandt rose to the position of Vice President of Service Deli in charge of all of the Service Deli's throughout all Ralphs locations in Southern California. Fred was referred to as "Freddie" by his close friends and co-workers.

While working at Ralphs Grocery Company, Fred was a member of the Southern California Deli Council, which later was re-named to the Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council of Southern California (DDBC), a local Food Industry Trade Association, and attended many of its meetings, seminars and functions. Fred was elected and served on the Deli Council's Board of Directors in 1982-1983, served as 1st Vice President in 1983 and was awarded the Deli Council's "Big Cheese" Award in December 1981, and "Retailer of the Year" in 1988 for his leadership and support of the Council. Fred has the distinction of being one of the only persons in the perishable food industry to have served on both the Northern California and Southern California Deli Council Boards of Directors.

Fred and his wife Dixie [formerly Dixie Dell Craytor] had three children: daughters Darcie and Cynthia and son Jerry. After his retirement from Ralphs Grocery Company, Fred and Dixie retired to Canton, Georgia, where they lived for several years. On Sunday, February 7, 2015 after attending church, Fred started feeling ill and he passed away four days later on February 11, 2015. Fred's wide smile and infectious laugh, as well as his hard work and dedication, will always be remembered fondly by his friends and co-workers in the food industry.

1. ↑ U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1. (United States).

   Name: Fred S Brandt
   Birth Date: 21 Nov 1928
   Phone Number: 921-2130
   Address: 210 S Old Bridge Rd, Anaheim, CA, 92808-1325 (1990)
   [1905 Monte Sereno Dr, Danville, CA, 94526]
   [1100 W Artesia Blvd, Compton, CA, 90220-5108 (1979)]

2.   United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).

   1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Name: Fredrick S Brandt
   Birth Year: abt 1929
   Gender: Male
   Race: White
   Birthplace: California
   Marital Status: Single
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Home in 1930: Montebello, Los Angeles, California
   Street address: Sunol Dr.
   House Number in Cities or Towns: 1327
   Dwelling Number: 48
   Family Number: 48
   Attended School: No
   Father's Birthplace: Austria
   Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
   Household Members: Name Age
   Steven J Brandt 36
   Elizabeth Brandt 22
   Fredrick S Brandt 1

3.   United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).

   1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Name: Frederick S Brandt
   Age: 11
   Estimated birth year: abt 1929
   Gender: Male
   Race: White
   Birthplace: California
   Marital Status: Single
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Home in 1940: Glendale, Los Angeles, California
   Street: N. Valencia
   House Number: 502
   Inferred Residence in 1935: Glendale, Los Angeles, California
   Residence in 1935: Same House
   Sheet Number: 1A
   Attended School or College: Yes
   Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 5th grade
   Household Members: Name Age
   Stephan J Brandt 47
   Elizabeth Brandt 32
   Frederick S Brandt 11
   James Brandt 9

4. ↑ California, United States. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. (Sacramento, CA, USA: California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.).

   Name: Fredrick Steven Brandt
   Birth Date: 21 Nov 1928
   Gender: Male
   Mother's Maiden Name: Pfaff
   Birth County: Los Angeles

5.   Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia, United States. Daily Constitution, The. (Atlanta, Georgia)
   15 February 2015.

   BRANDT, Frederick S. Age 86, of Canton, passed away Feb. 12, 2015. Services 7 PM Feb. 19, at Sixes United Methodist Church. Darby Funeral Home, Canton, GA - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?n=frederick-stephen-brandt&pid=174156020&fhid=5336#sthash.oXMLpom9.dpuf

6.   Cherokee Tribune, Canton, Georgia (Newspaper)
   15 February 2015.

   BRANDT, Frederick Stephen
   Mr. Frederick Stephen Brandt age 86 of Canton, Ga died on Thursday February 12, 2015. Celebration of life will be held at 7:00 P.M. Thursday February 19, 2015 at the Sixes United Methodist Church. Mr. Brandt began his career at age 16 with Ralph’s Grocery Company as a box boy. He advanced through the ranks over his 50 year career to become Vice President and sit on the Board of Directors. He is survived by his wife, Dixie Brandt, Canton, GA Son, Jerry Stephen Brandt, Arroyo Grande, CA Daughters & son-in-law Darcie Brandt, Canton, GA and Cynthia & Eric Middleton, Canton, GA Grandchildren Chandler Stephen Middleton and Spencer Andrew Middleton, Also Survive. He was a wonderful; Husband, Father, and Grandfather who loved life and celebrated life to its fullest each day. Family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to, Sixes United Methodist Church 8385 Bells Ferry Rd Canton, Ga 30114. The caring staff of the Darby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.