Frederick Dean Fairchild 85 of Urbana died Friday September 18, 2026 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana following a brief illness.

Fred was born November 26, 1940 in Berwyn, the son of Donald and Ruth Andrews Fairchild. He graduated from Morton High School in Berwyn and Cicero in 1959. He attended Morton Junior College and received B.S. (1963) and M.S. (1965) degrees in music education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

He served in the U.S. Navy 1965-69. During his serviced he was percussionist with the Armed Forces School of Music Staff Band and Percussion Ensemble 1965-66 and the U.S. Naval Academy Band in Annapolis 1966-69.

From 1969-67 he was on the percussion faculty of the School of Music at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He was also part-time faculty in University Bands 1969-86. He retired in 1997.

He was a member of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, the Parkland Concert Band, the Percussive Arts Society and Windjammers Unlimited.

In 1974 he married Connie Ashmore in Champaign, and she survives him. He is also survived by a brother G. Daniel Fairchild of Platteville, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial celebration will be held at a later date.