Skip was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania to Harold and Grace Frey on October 27, 1939. He graduated from Southern Lehigh High School and Penn State University. He was a lifelong Nittany Lion football fan. In 1970, after earning a PhD in Biophysics, Skip moved with his family to Waterloo, Ontario. He worked at the University of Waterloo as a professor and later a laboratory researcher. In addition to Skip’s academic career, he also spent time working as a plumber’s apprentice, carpenter, home builder, and volunteer fireman.
His lifelong passion for science was matched by his love of the outdoors and working with his hands. In his younger years Skip enjoyed whitewater canoeing, spelunking, hiking, camping, skiing, softball, and woodworking. Skip was also an avid gardener. Skip and his wife Maija turned their backyard into an award-winning flower garden and they also grew fruit and vegetables that were enjoyed by family and friends. Skip had a number of other pastimes including reading copious amounts of Science Fiction and passionately discussing politics.
Skip is survived by his wife, Maija Keller, his children, Christopher (and Kristin) Frey and Jennifer (and Brent) Diamond; step-children Vincent (and Judith) Keller, Victor Keller, and Linette Keller (and Michael Molenaar); and grandchildren, Erin, Brooke, Karissa, Jacob, Quentin, Ronan, Ashleigh, Jess, Kristina, great-grandson Tyrion, all of whom remember him fondly.
Messages and condolences may be left at www.tricitycremations.com. Please visit Skip's obituary notice on Facebook.