Frederick Carlton “Fred” Sage, 91, passed away Dec. 3, 2015, after a brief illness. His family was at his bedside throughout his illness and gives thanks for his life of service in the spirit of “Non Sibi,” not for self.
Fred was born in Iowa City, Iowa, Sept. 19, 1924, to Erwin C. Sage, M.D., and Katherine Miles Sage. Growing up in Eagle Grove, Iowa, in the busy family life of a country doctor, he learned quickly of the hardships, but even more so the joys of middle-American life. After a year in Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Institute, his father moved the family to Burlington, Iowa, to initiate the first Public Health system and introduce essential modern medicine to a rural state suffering the depths of the Great Depression. It was such an upbringing that instilled our family’s ancient motto, “Non Sibi,” at the core of Fred’s being.
With a mounting interest in community, Fred pursued his bachelor’s degree in economics at Washington and Lee University, in Lexington, Va. World War II interrupted his studies and Fred answered the call to duty by entering the Navy’s V-12 program, leading to a commission as Ensign. He was deployed in the Pacific theater as skipper of landing craft tank LCT6-1377 and part of the U.S. force taking command of Okinawa during the war’s final year. Meanwhile, his father served as surgeon aboard a hospital ship, also in the Okinawa campaign, and his brother Rod served in the Navy’s Pacific effort, as well. This experience inspired a lifelong passion for the Navy and the service to which our nation’s men and women are called in time of war.
Returning to the states and his studies at Washington and Lee, he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Schwarz. On completion of undergraduate study, they moved to New York City, where he attended Columbia University and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for a master’s degree in the emerging field of hospital administration. After his internship program at Stanford Hospital, in San Francisco, he entered into a 35-year career in hospital administration in Iowa, California and Colorado. From 1963 to 1975, Fred was hospital administrator for Brighton Community Hospital, introducing a number of technology and operational innovations, as well as launching the Emergency Medical Technician and Platte Valley Ambulance services for the area. After this long career, he committed the next 15 years to putting into practice Medicare programs within health and human services in Colorado, and regional hospitals and nursing facilities.
With five decades of professional healthcare experience, Fred developed a deep understanding of public health and the challenges for the uninsured and under-insured, as well as the harmful economic impact on hospitals and healthcare delivery. He devoted much of his retired life to advancing thought and understanding of single-payer healthcare though writings and community symposiums.
With a natural sense of civic responsibility, and as true for so many of our too quickly passing “greatest generation,” Fred was committed to numerous organizations over the years. He more recently was active in the Boulder Evening Optimists, National and Active Retired Federal Employees, the Admiral Arleigh Burke chapter of Military Officers, the Boulder Friends of Jazz, and in serving St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in roles of both deacon and elder.
Fred is well known by his family and friends for his quick wit and bright sense of humor that could leave you with a laugh and often-thoughtful reflection. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of over 68 years; his brother, Roderick Sage, M.D.; his three sons and their spouses, Hugh (Claranne Knittel), David (Jeanette Sewell), and Rod (Christine Barnes); two grandchildren, Lindsay (Aaron Johnson), and Jeffrey (Alicia Anton); and four great-grandchildren, Sophia, Elliana, Adelyn and Benjamin.
A family memorial and internment at Fort Logan National Cemetery are to be held in the future. The family encourages that your memorials be made to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 3700 Baseline Road, Boulder, CO 80303; or to Military Officers Association of America, P.O. Box 17224, Boulder, CO 80308.