Obituaries : Frederick E. Phoenix; Real Estate Lender

Frederick Earl Phoenix, a retired commercial real estate lender, died Saturday at his Thousand Oaks home. He was 66.

He was born Oct. 30, 1932, in Holyoke, Mass., where he attended school.

In 1956, he graduated from Northeastern University in Boston. As part of a five-year work program with the Navy, he entered Officer Candidate School.

He met his future wife, Joyce Ladabouche, in Springfield, Mass., a town near where he lived. They married Sept. 28, 1957, at the East Springfield Congregational Church.

He served four years of active duty in the Navy as a lieutenant commander and was stationed in Puerto Rico. He spent another eight years with the Naval Reserve.

After he left active service, Phoenix began his civilian career in real estate as an appraiser.

The family moved to Covina in 1964 and then to San Diego in 1965. From 1974 to 1989, they lived in Westlake Village and then moved to Thousand Oaks.

He became a commercial real estate lender, working for Mitsubishi Bank in Los Angeles. He retired two years ago.

Phoenix was an active member of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church. He was an elder and twice traveled to Mississippi to build houses on behalf of Habitat for Humanity.

His daughter, Cherie Longawa of Thousand Oaks, said that her father enjoyed fixing things around the house and woodworking. Phoenix also enjoyed sailing and camping.

In addition to Longawa, Phoenix is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughter, Sue McCubbin of Livermore; two brothers, Henry of Massachusetts and Brad of Pennsylvania; and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution in his name can be made to the Building Fund at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church.

Viewing will be held today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pierce Bros. Valley Oaks Mortuary in Westlake Village. Memorial services are scheduled Thursday at 2 p.m. at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Thousand Oaks.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Bros. Valley Oaks Mortuary in Westlake Village.