Fred Volkmer, Prolific Literary And Music Critic, Dies At 75

Fred Volkmer, who was revered for his book and music reviews for over 30 years, died on December 25 at the Westhampton Care Center. He was 75.

Born on June 22, 1945, his formative years began in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and continued in the bay area of San Francisco, California, where he graduated from Concordia High School in 1963. He always recognized how fortunate he was to have had an exceptional high school education; it prepared him for a lifetime of self-directed reading and learning. He returned to the East Coast and met his wife, Linda. They were married in 1967, followed by the birth of their daughter Katherine Anne in 1971.

Fred and Linda settled in Southampton, where he opened a delicatessen, a business he knew well from his father, who was a German immigrant. After eight years in the business, he was appointed deputy treasurer for the Village of Southampton for 23 years, until his retirement in 2007.

His first article was published in Newsday in 1978. He began writing book and music reviews in the 1980s for The Southampton Press, The East Hampton Star, The New York Sun and The Wall Street Journal.

Along with his wife and daughter, Mr. Volkmer sang with the Presbyterian Church choir for several decades as well as the Choral Society of the Hamptons, for which he also wrote program notes. An advocate of writers, musicians, and the arts community of the East End of Long Island, he was entirely self-educated and respected for his encyclopedic erudition.

Mr. Volkmer passionately supported Pianofest in the Hamptons, the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, and The Rising Stars Piano Series through his writing. In retirement, he enjoyed working part time, as well as volunteering for Canio’s Bookshop in Sag Harbor.

At the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton, he presented a lecture series from his writings entitled “Great Women I Have Never Known,” referring to lesser known women writers of the last century whom he felt deserved more attention. The idea began from an earlier talk which he had given, “The Suburbs of Literature.”

Fred’s family and friends remember him for his gentle kindness, incredible wit, patience, grace, and astounding intelligence.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Katherine; grandson, Avery; and son-in-law Edward; as well as many cherished friends and extended family members.

In lieu of flowers or services, donations to Pianofest in the Hamptons (www.pianofest.com) would be gratefully accepted in memory of Fred Volkmer.