Sean Fredrickson, 48, and his three children were killed over the holiday weekend as the plane they were in collided with another airplane at Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho. He had been in his position at the Lake Oswego, Ore. club for a little more than a year. Prior to that, Fredrickson, who was also President of the Pacific Northwest Section PGA and that group’s PGA Professional of the Year in 2019, was the Golf Professional at Tualatin (Ore.) CC for 14 years.
Sean Fredrickson, the Golf Professional at Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego, Ore., was killed, along with his three children, in a plane crash at Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho on July 5, Oswego Lake General Manager Bryan Fisher confirmed to The Oregonian. Fredrickson also was President of the Pacific Northwest Section PGA.
“The loss of Sean Fredrickson and his children Hayden, Sofie and Quinn is devastating,” Fisher said in a statement. “Sean was an exceptional golf professional who was awarded the PGA Professional of the Year honor in 2019 by the Pacific Northwest Section PGA. Oswego Lake Country Club was honored to have him as a member of our family. His positive spirit and joy for the game of golf was contagious. But more importantly, Sean was a tremendous husband, father and friend. Our love and heartfelt sympathy goes to his wife, April, his family and friends during this time of loss.”
The crash occurred when two planes collided over the lake, The Associated Press reported. Eight people were killed in the crash, including Fredrickson, 48, and son Hayden, along with stepchildren Sofie and Quinn.
Fisher told The Oregonian that he had known Fredrickson in meeting him at different golf tournaments over the years, and that the two had become close. Fredrickson had spent 14 years as the Golf Professional at Tualatin (Ore.) Country Club before being hired by Lake Oswego in 2019. Fredrickson had been the Golf Professional at Oswego Lake for a little more than a year before his death.
“Many of you know that I lost my husband and beautiful children in a plane wreck over Lake Coeur d ‘Alene yesterday,” Fredrickson’s wife, April Upchurch, said in a statement to KREM in Spokane. “I am reeling from the loss, but take solace in the fact that they were on an adventure and so excited for their first sea plane ride.
“Thank you for all of the love and support. It truly does help. I know that they each touched many lives and that our entire LO and Tualatin community will be grieving. Please know that we had a wonderful family weekend and an opportunity to spend time together. Thank you for keeping me in your prayers.”
Fisher heard the news of Fredrickson’s death from another Oswego Lake staffer as he was driving home to Tigard from Camp 18 Restaurant near the Oregon coast on July 5, The Oregonian reported.
“It’s just complete, utter shock,” Fisher said. “I just held it in for the whole hour ride back home. It’s pretty hard. Very, very hard.”
In the months and years to come, Fisher plans to work with the country club to honor Fredrickson, The Oregonian reported. He said he would consider a golf tournament named after him, or name recently built facilities after him, too.
“So much of what Sean was about was about mentoring,” Fisher said. “He was really big on trying to build that.”
In a statement, the Pacific Northwest Section PGA said: “It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our friend and President Sean Fredrickson yesterday in a plane crash in Coeur d’ Alene. Sean was an incredible father, husband, PGA Professional, mentor and leader. There are never words to communicate the pain of such a loss. Whether through prayer or quiet reflection, please hold Sean and his family in your hearts.”
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