Frederick J. Rock

Frederick J. Rock passed away on March 25, 2026 in Chicago, IL at the age of 76. Known as Rick within the family and Fred in his professional and adult life, he enjoyed riding his bicycle, had an interest in trains, and was passionate about music, especially pipe organs.

Frederick was born on August 13, 1949 in Morristown, NJ and grew up in Boonton, NJ with his parents, Julia (Sefing) and Philip A. Rock, and siblings: Philip Arthur Rock Jr. (now deceased), JoyceAnne Rice, and Lawrence Leonard Rock.

In 1971, he graduated from the University of Baltimore, and later received a master’s degree in accounting from Roosevelt University. His career as a comptroller focused on the hospitality industry including the Mid-Day Club and the Union League Club of Chicago.

Weather permitting, Frederick rode his bicycle along the Chicago lakefront and combined his interest in trains by riding “Rails to Trails” in the Midwest. He was a frequent visitor to the Illinois Railway museum, which includes the Delaware Lackawanna & Western “Boonton Car” #567 that his father rode every work day.

Paraphrasing on the famous quote from Walt Whitman, “To have great poets, there must be great audiences," Frederick was a passionate concert audience member attending performances including Rush Hour Concerts, Bach Cantatas at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, IL, North Shore Concert Band, Grant Park Music Festival, Ravinia Festival, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and services at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

His special passion for pipe organs drew him to many places including the Tuesday Tea & Pipes at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago and to The Auditorium at Ocean Grove during visits to the Jersey Shore. Frederick enjoyed chatting with the organists including Gordon Turk at the Auditorium and Tom Weisflog at Rockefeller Chapel. For his 70th birthday in 2019, he toured the world’s largest pipe organ at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ..

Surviving family members include: Joyce and Lawrence, six nieces and a nephew, cousins, and grand nieces and nephews. Frederick’s ashes will be commended to a niche adjacent to his parents at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Barrington Hills, IL. Found among his papers is the parting hymn, Life’s Railway to Heaven, which includes these words:

Life is like a mountain railway, with an engineer that's braveWe must make the run successful, from the cradle to the grave,Heed the curves and hills and tunnels, never falter never fail,Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.