With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Frederick Lawrence Tufts, 79, of New Canaan, Connecticut, and Naples, Florida, on June 12, 2026. Surrounded by the love of his family, Fred passed away peacefully following a courageous battle with cancer.
Frederick Tufts
Born on November 26, 1946, in Peabody, Massachusetts, Fred was the son of the late Colonel Henry Harold Tufts, Jr. and Margaret (Lawrence) Tufts. His life was shaped by family, friendship, service, hard work, humor, and an enduring appreciation for the people around him.
Above all else, Fred cherished his family. He was a devoted husband to Julie Scott Tufts, his beloved wife of 55 years. He was a proud father to Christopher Michael Tufts and his wife, Kelli Cumiskey, and Ryan Lawrence Tufts and his wife, Eileen Tufts. He was always present for his family, whether coaching and attending sporting events or providing guidance through life’s educational, professional, and family milestones. Nothing brought him greater joy than being Ampy to his grandchildren Nolan, Oliver, June, Brendan, Reid, Matthew, and Nora.
He is also survived by his brother, Henry Harold Tufts III of Brookline, Massachusetts, and his partner, Rene Garza; his sister, Monica Tufts of White Plains, New York, and her husband, Stephen Povemba; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, colleagues, and lifelong friends.
Raised in a military family, Fred spent his childhood moving between assignments in Washington, D.C., Salzburg, Austria, Kansas, Hawaii, and other locations. Though he attended four different high schools, he had an extraordinary ability to form friendships that endured throughout his life.
The values instilled by his parents—integrity, responsibility, loyalty, hard work, and devotion to family—became the foundation upon which he built his life. He was also proud to carry the name of his uncle, Frederick George Lawrence, a Corporal in the United States Army Air Forces who was killed in action over Japan on August 7, 1945, just one week before the end of World War II.
Fred attended Santa Clara University, where he earned both a BA in History and an MBA. Santa Clara remained close to his heart throughout his life, not only because of the education and friendships it provided, but because it was where he met Julie, beginning a partnership that would shape the rest of his life.
Long before his professional success, Fred developed the work ethic that would define him. As a young teenager, he waited tables at a Howard Johnson’s restaurant and later drove a Holsum Bread delivery truck in Honolulu, rising before dawn to complete his route so he could spend afternoons surfing.
Continuing a tradition of military service, Fred participated in ROTC while at Santa Clara and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. Trained as an artillery officer, he served for 13 months in Chuncheon, South Korea, and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant.
Following a brief stint with Ford Motor Company, Fred joined IBM in 1975. What began selling typewriters and business equipment in the San Jose area evolved into a remarkable 42-year career in sales and relationship management. His work took him across the United States and around the world. During the late 1980s, he helped establish IBM’s presence in China, spending three years living in Hong Kong with Julie and their family. He later worked in Paris and held numerous leadership roles throughout his career.
Although proud of his professional accomplishments, Fred measured success less by titles than by relationships. His years at IBM fostered friendships across continents that lasted a lifetime, and those relationships remained among his greatest treasures.
As much as Fred enjoyed travel and the opportunity to experience new cultures, his greatest joy was always coming home to his family. Family vacations and time together created some of his most cherished memories. He loved Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Tuscany, and especially welcoming family and friends to Naples, Florida. Crossword puzzles on the beach, Beefeater and tonics, and bottles of Sea Smoke Pinot Noir often accompanied those gatherings.
Fred approached life with enthusiasm, curiosity, generosity, and humor. He was a trusted friend, thoughtful mentor, joyful uncle, and someone who could make any gathering more enjoyable.
An avid golfer and passionate fisherman, Fred found some of his greatest joys on the golf course and on the water, pursuits that were always more about companionship than competition. He was a longtime member of the Country Club of New Canaan and the Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples. He eagerly anticipated the annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby and cherished fishing adventures in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and the mangrove waters south of Naples. Whether standing in a trout stream, casting from a Vineyard beach, navigating the backwaters of Florida, or enjoying a round of golf with family and friends, Fred was happiest when sharing the experience with people he loved.
Fred’s legacy is not found in a résumé, a trophy, or a title. It lives on in the friendships he nurtured, the family he adored, the values he embodied, and the countless memories he helped create. His was a life well lived, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at St. Aloysius Church, 21 Cherry Street New Canaan CT 06840, followed by a celebration of life. Interment will be private and held at a later date.
The Tufts Family is being compassionately cared for by the staff at Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street New Canaan CT 06840. For online condolences please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fred’s memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Fred and his family were deeply grateful for the extraordinary care, compassion, and dedication provided by his physicians, nurses, and medical staff throughout his more than 25-year journey with cancer. Although he faced the disease for much of his adult life, he rarely complained and never allowed it to define him.
The family would also like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the many friends and family members who provided unwavering support, kindness, and encouragement to Fred, Julie, Chris, and Ryan, particularly during the past two years when it was needed most. Their generosity, friendship, and love were a source of strength and comfort, and the family will be forever grateful.