Donald James "Donnie" Frederic

Donald James "Donnie" Frederic died on Friday, July 4, 2014 in Montreal, Québec, Canada,while vacationing with his wife, Jeanne. A native of Ascension Parish, and the son of John and Eula Mae Martinez Frederic, he was born August 8, 1953, in Donaldsonville, La. The family will receive friends at Ourso Funeral Home in Gonzales, La. on Saturday, July 12, 2014, from 10 a.m. until the prayer service at 2 p.m. (13533 Airline Hwy, Gonzales, La. (225) 647-8608.) A memorial service honoring Donnie's life will also be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Humphrey Funeral Home, 2801 West Main Street, Russellville, Ark. 72801. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Bercegeay Frederic of Dover; his mother, Eula Mae Martinez Frederic of St. Amant, La.; four brothers and their wives, Doug & Ramona Frederic, Dave & Connie Frederic, Johnny & Virginia Frederic all of St. Amant, La., Kenny & Kristi Frederic of Houston, Texas; sister and her husband, Janice & Joey Meyers of St. Amant, La.; many loving nieces and nephews. While in high school, he became interested in music and performed with a folk group and his own band Dusty Roads. In 1971, he graduated from East Ascension High School in Gonzales, La. Donnie went on to play with a popular band from Gonzales called New Blues. He continued to perform while in college. Donnie earned his bachelor's degree in 1978 from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. In 1981 he began his career in health care as a Purchasing Agent at East Ascension Hospital in Gonzales, La.. He also began a longstanding love affair with Corvettes! In 1985, Donnie moved to Lafayette, La., where he became Director of Materials Management at Hamilton Medical Center, where he met Jeanne Bercegeay. In 1989, Donnie moved to Baton Rouge, La., where he served as Director of Material Management at (Oschner) Medical Center of Baton Rouge. On weekends, he continued to perform music professionally with the group Magnolia. In 1992 he retired from playing music professionally and married the "love of his life" Jeanne Bercegeay. He also earned a master's degree in Healthcare Administration at Tulane University. In 1995, the Frederic's returned to the Lafayette area where Donnie accepted the position of COO at Women's and Children's Hospital. He became CEO of Crossroads Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, Ill., in 1997. The Frederic's soon got their first Weimaraner, Donnie's second love of his life, "Dixie" followed five years later by their precious pup, "Ceasar". They brought home their third sweet pup "Zeus" January, 2014. In 2012, Frederic came to Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center from Louisiana Medical Center and Heart Hospital, Lacombe, La., where he had been President and CEO since January of 2009. Prior to that, he served in senior leadership positions at a number of facilities, including three in Arkansas: Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock as COO; Northwest Health System in Springdale as Administrator and COO; and Bates Medical Center in Bentonville as COO. He also served at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Ill., as CEO; Women's and Children's Hospital in Lafayette, La., as COO; and Gulf Coast Medical Center in Wharton, Texas, as CEO. As CEO of Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, Donnie quickly won over the entire staff at St. Mary's with his unique style, leading with a strong commitment to excellence. Since becoming CEO of Saint Mary's the hospital has experienced significant growth. He oversaw the investment of approximately $25 million in capital expenditures from parent company Capella Healthcare, funding expansions in cardiology, cancer treatment, and diagnostics, as well as the 48,000 square-foot new Millard-Henry Clinic. In 2013 he received the Capella Healthcare CEO Leadership Award. Donnie was highly engaged in the community, serving on the Boards of the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce and recently serving as Treasurer for the Alliance for Economic Development, and also on the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Council. He had recently been appointed by the Arkansas State Senate President to serve on the State's new Healthcare Quality and Payment Policy Advisory Committee, representing hospitals with more than 100 beds. He had earned fellowship status in the American College of Healthcare Executives, and had been active in both the Arkansas Hospital Association and the Louisiana Hospital Association. The online obituary and guestbook may be found at www.humphreyfuneral.com.