Frederick L. Neumann

Frederick Loomis Neumann 16 Nov 1930 – 25 Sept 2026. A life well lived

Urbana – A memorial service for Fred Neumann, 95, of Urbana will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday 24 October at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 1203 W. Green Street in Urbana. Plans are to make the service available live on-line and also recorded.

Mr. Neumann died at 9 p.m. Friday evening.

Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Road, U, is in charge of arrangements.

Fred was born in New Britain, Connecticut, the youngest of four children. His mother Rachel provided kindergarten to children in France at the conclusion of WWI; was likely the first unaccompanied lady airplane passenger over the English Channel (she and her identical twin sister, Ruth); invited and received Eleanor Roosevelt to her League of Women Voters’ forum; operated a successful nursery school out of their home and was named Connecticut Mother of the Year in 1953! Fred’s father Carl worked long hours during WWII as President of Union Manufacturing foundry and, literally, wrote the book on New Britain history. Yet Fred always assumed he was from a typical family, and, as was very evident to all who knew him, lived his entire life with humility.

As a child Fred saw the Hindenburg pass over his schoolyard before its terrible demise later that day. He achieved Boy Scout's Eagle Scout rank with palms and Order of the Arrow. He was Connecticut state champion bugler as well as bugle sergeant of the Troop 4 Trumpet Band. He also played in the New Britain Senior High School band and sang in their chorus. Fred toured Europe by bicycle with his two older brothers the summer of 1949, logging over 1000 miles. Next he worked his way through Dartmouth College (again he played in the band and sang in the glee club) then Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck School of Business, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa before answering the call to serve his country toward the end of the Korean War. Graduating second in his Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) class, he earned a world tour duty on the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet (CVA-12) where he served as General Stores and Repair Parts Officer as well as Division Officer; his second tour of duty was as Supply Officer on the Destroyer, USS Mansfield (DD-728).

He remained in the Naval Reserve, a demanding path, deserving respect for all who accept it. Fred retired as a Commander in 1990, but continued to consider himself a man of the armed forces of the United States, often remarking that some of the best men he ever met were those he served alongside in the Navy.

Fred worked as a Senior Accountant in the New York office of Arthur Andersen; one assignment was at Hershey in Pennsylvania and another, in New York City. While in New York, through the Marble Collegiate Church Young Adult Group, he met and married Grace Elizabeth Robinson on 10 September 1960. Elizabeth, from Lewiston, ID, also a cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa college graduate, also worked her way through school, and was a copywriter for the Bonwit Teller department store. She had moved to NYC after teaching for one year and then working for two years for a printer. Before that, she had landed a position in New York as Production Associate for a new pocketsize magazine, Coronet then moved up to the parent company as assistant to the director of production for Esquire magazine. She was both resourceful and determined. After becoming a stay-at-home mother of three, she continued to promote community events, write human interest stories and provide professional editing services. Elizabeth wrote advertising copy for Carson Pirie Scott in Urbana. She also wrote a weekly newspaper column during the nation's bicentennial celebration and served as copy editor for the American Sociological Review and Issues in Accounting Education while those journals were edited on campus at the University of Illinois. She was chief critic and editor of Fred's papers and presentations, and the children received some assistance too. At the end of 1962 the family moved to Chicago where Fred earned his PhD in Business from the University of Chicago on a Ford Foundation Fellowship. Intent to encourage college graduates with practical experience to go into teaching, since Fred had both Navy and Arthur Andersen work experience, they awarded him a prestigious three-year scholarship in exchange for the promise to teach - and teach he DID! He began teaching in 1965 and completed his PhD dissertation from Urbana, a feat that was highly discouraged because so few succeed. Starting as an Assistant Professor, Fred was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in five years and full Professor five years later. He was elected Head of the Department of Accountancy for a full term during which the Department was named the best in the country. He was named Price Waterhouse Professor of Accounting and Auditing, a title he held until he retired. He served on and chaired several departmental, college, and university committees. He also served several terms in the Student/Faculty Senate. He later became Associate Dean of the College of Commerce and Business Administration (now the Gies College of Business) for a decade and retired as Interim Dean. During his time on the faculty, he was a member and served on committees of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Institute of Management Accountants. He was Director of Publications and served on the Board of Directors of the American Accounting Association and edited their journal, Issues in Accounting Education. He also founded and was president of their Auditing and of the Teaching and Curriculum Sections. From the former he received the Outstanding Auditing Educator Award and their Distinguished Service to Auditing Award. From the latter, he received their Distinguished Achievement Award. He was president of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy and received their Joseph Silvoso, Faculty Merit Award. He was a Certified Internal Auditor, a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and the first recipient of their Leon R. Radde, Educator of the Year Award. He served on the Board of the Illinois CPA Society and was President of their Eastern Chapter, and he was the treasurer then president of the local chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Fred served a term as a member of the McKinley Foundation Board and was chair of the Finance Committee. He was also the first Chair of the Audit Committee of the National Council of Teachers of English.

Many of you knew Fred through his volunteer work with organizations including empty tomb, Head Start, the Illinois Marathon, YMCA, Optimists Club, Virginia Theater, Faith-in-Action, the Red Cross (he went to Miami, FL to help with recovery after Hurricane Wilma as well as to other locations) and logging 10,000 volunteer hours at OSF hospital alone. Fred was District Lay Leader and delegate to the Annual Conference for the Methodist Church and a Certified Lay Speaker. He was treasurer and member of Wesley United Methodist Church and of Grace United Methodist Church. Fred is also an incredible (though anonymous) philanthropist.

Those who knew him loved and respected his kindness and steadfastness founded upon his trust in God and his own integrity – he did the right thing even when personal costs were high. Caring for others was always high on his list; he was always giving and not complaining. He never looked for the failings of others, but forward for the best outcome - that was his mission. His encyclopedic knowledge allowed for interesting conversations with anyone; he was always ready to listen, to continue to learn, and to be part of what was going on. For decades he shared an informative, weekly letter with family, headlining historic characters and events for those of us who never knew or had forgotten. Fred was also a great sports fan and, in particular, understood the game of football from both sides of the field; he cheered for the beauty of the game itself—unless, of course, he was rooting for Dartmouth, the University of Illinois, or his beloved Navy.

Fred’s gentlemanly character, and the quiet way in which he looked to put others first, is a signature he has written large across his life - taught first by family then his time in the US Navy then as a reservist and volunteer in his community. Fred sowed generously and graciously into the lives of so many others; his final days are a testimony to the saying that one who sows generously will reap generously, with so many sacrificing their time to be with him in the final stage of his earthly journey.

Fred embodied the words of friend and mentor, Norman Vincent Peale,

“Keep your heart free from hate, your mind, from worry; live simply, expect little; give much, fill your life with love, scatter sunshine; forget self, think of others; do as you would be done unto.”

Very recently, Fred's health declined rapidly and he entered hospice care for his last few weeks. In his final days, he was surrounded by family around the clock and had an amazing team of caregivers.

Fred is preceded in death by his mother, Rachel Louise Clark; Father, Carl Samuel Neumann; Brothers Robert Bradford Neumann of Troy, Ohio, George Clark Neumann, of South Attleboro, Massachusetts, Sister Marjorie Tryon Gosling, of Perth, Australia and his wife Grace Elizabeth Ann Robinson Neumann. Fred is survived by his children, Brad Neumann (Melody), Carla Busick (Kevin), and Marshall Neumann (Candi); grandchildren, Nick Dickman (Amy), Matthew Neumann (Ashley), Jonathon Haven (Iliana), Rob Gentry, and Kendall Gentry; and great grandchildren, Eric and Joey Dickman.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the kind care givers at Clark-Lindsey Village, where Fred resided this past year: mail checks to CLV Employee Holiday Fund (101 W Windsor Rd; Urbana, IL 61802) or go on-line to clarklindsey.com. Or donate to your preferred organization, in the spirit of Fred Neumann’s kindness and generosity.