Frederick "FJ" Ransom

Frederick "FJ" Ransom, 84, of Fort Smith passed away Feb. 21, 2011. College studies included Xavier University, University of Arkansas, Philander Smith College, and Seton Hall University. His passions were his students, classical music, languages and cultural exchange. Fred started his teaching career in Little Rock, at Dunbar High School and Horace Mann. During those years he proudly performed as a guest soloist with the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra. In 1958, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to continue his vocal studies in Germany, and also lived and taught in France. Returning to America, Fred started a long career in the Newark, NJ Public School system, as a teacher and administrator in Music and Foreign Languages. As a vocalist, he performed with many symphony orchestras, including in the New York & New Jersey areas. Retiring back to Fort Smith, he travelled many times to Morocco, where he enjoyed working with students and assisting them with their entrance exams to various colleges in the U.S. Fred is survived by a loving godson, Stephen Wyatt of California, and a huge extended family all over the United States including nieces, nephews and cousins from the Quinn, Caldwell, Miller, Davis, Jones, and Reynolds families. Funeral is today at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith.