Frederica Woodall Anderson

After a long, extraordinary life filled with love and service, Frederica Woodall Anderson, a champion and "grande dame" of the ski world, made her decision to leave the planet on Dec. 19th, 2022, two months shy of her 102nd birthday. A lifelong resident of Schenectady NY, Freddie began her skiing career as a toddler and continued it with passion until the age of 95, with her last turns made on the slopes of Whiteface Mt. Her parents, Schenectady residents Dr. Charles Woodall and Ida Rand Woodall, were her guiding force: as early winter sports enthusiasts, they had her on skis at the age of three.

Freddie attended Smith College, graduating in 1942. As a student, she was asked to help teach the ski classes there, and stated "I love this so much that I want to do it for the rest of my life!" After college, she began teaching skiing to friends on the hills of the Schenectady Municipal Golf Course. She met the dashing Henry Carl "Andy" Anderson at a Schenectady Wintersports Club meeting when he was fresh out of MIT and employed by General Electric as an engineer. The two of them quickly bonded over their love of the skiing life, making the trek on the "ski train" up to North Creek on weekends. He proposed when they were on a trip to Mont Tremblant in Quebec (chaperoned by her parents). They married in 1944, and honeymooned at (where else?) Mont Tremblant. Throughout their 56 year marriage, Henry and Freddie traveled to ski at numerous locales in the US and Europe. Their three daughters each began skiing at the age of three, and inherited their parents' enthusiasm for skiing.

Freddie shared her skiing passion and knowledge with many who in turn became instructors themselves, (including her daughters,) teaching countless people to embrace and love the sport. As an early member of PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) Frederica's impact on the ski industry was unparalleled: she taught literally thousands of people to ski. In 1950, while teaching classes on the golf course, she founded the Schenectady Ski School, which grew into a thriving business, eventually locating in 1967 to the new Maple Ski Ridge on Mariaville Rd. Over time, Schenectady Ski School employed hundreds of instructors who taught the joy of skiing to thousands of students for over fifty years. Freddie also was a part-time instructor at Gore Mountain for years, and was a known luminary at ski areas throughout the Adirondacks and the Northeast. She was also instrumental in forming the first Board of Directors of PSIA-Eastern Division, and remained on the board and active there for many years. Throughout her long ski career, she was lauded with numerous awards in the professional ski world.

Alongside her life as a skiing professional, Frederica had a career as a professional photographer, photographing portraits and weddings as well as stunning landscapes and beautiful closeups of her beloved flowers. Freddie's passion for skiing was closely followed by her love for tennis, swimming, and sailing, and she was a lifelong member at the Mohawk Golf Club. Other loves included gardening, floral arranging, pets, parties and chocolate. She and Andy were accomplished dancers, and even taught ballroom dancing at one point.

A dedicated and knowledgeable gardener, she was active in the Garden Club, and maintained stunning perennial gardens that gave viewers pause as they drove past the Andersons' Niskayuna home. She enjoyed gifting beautiful bouquets to friends and providing flowers for her church, Emmanuel Baptist (now Emmanuel Friedens.) She was an avid knitter, knitting countless sweaters for friends and family. She worked at the rationing board during WWII and was president of Schenectady Planned Parenthood, as well as involved with the Schenectady Junior League, the Smith College Alumni Club, and the Schenectady Wintersports Club.

Compassion, empathy and loving kindness were hallmarks of Frederica's nature. She was deeply kind and thoughtful, and exemplified that in ways large and small, always thinking of others. Communicating, sharing and giving were immensely important to her; she loved people deeply.

Frederica was predeceased in 2000 by her husband of 56 years, Henry Carl Anderson; and her parents Dr. Charles Wesley Woodall and Ida Rand Woodall, of Schenectady. She is survived by her daughters Christina Woodall Anderson of Wilmington NY, Karen Rand Anderson of Pawtucket RI, and Carla Anderson Chapman (Jeffrey Chapman) of Colorado Springs; granddaughters Abigail Chapman, Danica Mitchell (Nash Palazzo), Ariel Mitchell (Ben Pomeroy) and great- granddaughter Eddy Damrosch Pomeroy, born on Dec. 2, 2022.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Kingsway Arms Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Schenectady for the loving care and attention they gave to Freddie in her final years. In lieu of flowers, donations in Frederica's memory can be made to PSIA-AASI Eastern Education Foundation www.easternsnowpros.org or Emmanuel Friedens Church www.emmanuelfriedens.org.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held for Freddie on May 20, 2023 at 1:00 pm, Emmanuel Friedens Church, 218 Nott Terrace, Schenectady NY.

The following link is a video of Freddie skiing at Maple Ski Ridge on her 90th birthday, aired by CNN in 2011.

Click Here to view the video.