Fredrick Branchflower, our family’s beloved patriarch, Subud brother, and dear friend to so many, passed away peacefully in our home on November 28, 2022 at the age of 86. See details on a celebration of his life to be held in February, below. His loving commitment to family, his friendships and service, along with his deep love and appreciation for Subud, were the principles that guided his life.
We have been so blessed to receive an outpouring of love from friends sharing their condolences as well as their experiences with him. One poignant card contained the quote, “Sometimes only one person is missing and the whole world seems depopulated.” Yes.
Dad was born in 1936, raised in both Seattle and Bainbridge Island, a child during the second World War. When he was two years old, his parents took him to meet their dear friend’s new baby (Melanie) in the hospital. One of his famous family stories recalls that twenty years later, in 1958, he impulsively shaved his head after watching Yul Brynner in “The King and I” and then proposed to my mom the next day. Despite the loss of that beautiful head of hair, she said ‘yes’! He figured she must have loved him then. Last June, they celebrated their 64th anniversary together.
Dad seemed to naturally embrace fatherhood. I can still hear his loud whoops at our many games or plays, and remember so many games of catch or Pickle in the backyard. He invited us every night at dinner to share about our day. He taught us Mastermind and Go. We felt listened to and challenged.
In his memoir, Dad wrote, “If I was to say what is most important to me, I would say God, Family/Friends and Health would be my top three. It is because of family and friends that my life has been so complete and wonderful.”
Dad had friends all over the world, in every walk of life, because he cared deeply about people. He had stories in his pocket from 50 years in Subud, 20 years in the Navy, and was a tireless advocate for the homeless and active as a volunteer in so many organizations we’ve lost count.
If Fredrick touched your life in some way, our family invites you to come appreciate and remember him with us. A celebration of his life will be held at the Spring Street Subud House in Seattle on Saturday, February 25th, beginning at 3 p.m. Debbie Machado will be preparing heavy hors d’oeuvres, all dad’s favorites, so please take a moment to RSVP here so she can prepare the right quantities.
Should anyone wish to make a memorial donation, we know Fredrick would greatly appreciate a gift to any of the Subud charities/organizations.
With love and gratitude,
Isabel Gates (and Melanie)
A Remembrance of Fredrick from Oswald Norton
For details on Fredrick and Melanie’s life, please click on Paul Nelson’s interview with them, from May 28, 2015. See some of Rachman Cantrell’s pictures of Fredrick HERE.
I’m sure that each of us has a story about how Fredrick touched us in one way or the other. The November 2022 Kejiwaan Gathering at Menucha was the last time I saw and spoke with Fredrick. We all told stories about either our opening, or something about our Subud journey we wanted to share.
My story concerned the different Subud enterprises that I had been a part of and how each one of them helped me to find what I needed for that time in my work life. One of those Subud enterprises was Branchflower Software.
In 1991, we moved to Bellevue and became a part of the member group which practiced the latihan on the east side. Sometimes we did latihan at the Branchflower’s home in Redmond.
When we moved to this area, I fully expecting I would continue the work I had started in the Los Angeles area, selling used technology. That wasn’t happening and I was pretty depressed about it. One time after latihan, I mentioned this to Fredrick and he offered me a sales job with his Branchflower Software company, a contact management program for small businesses. I was given the task of training and sales, and started to go to conferences with Fredrick’s son, Stephen. I didn’t make a lot of sales, but I did learn the software business and gained confidence in my abilities because of Fredrick’s confidence in me.
Later, Fredrick worked with a partner to create a product configuration software add-on for a major manufacturing software company, the first such product for the new Windows platform. Out of his work, I was given the opportunity to sell an entire manufacturing software suite for that company. I never sold a single one. However, what I did gain from both of these experiences was the confidence I needed to next be able to work for Microsoft and many other software companies over the next 20 years. All of that success I owe to Fredrick’s faith in me.
One last thought, about Fredrick’s work on enterprise: his desire was to leave an enterprise that would provide funds for Subud. This continued to his last days, when he was working on 3 different marketing websites that he hoped would eventually produce profits he could contribute.
I ask other brothers and sisters who knew him to please chime in with their remembrances.
NOTE: Share your reflections or thoughts on Fredrick’s life in the comment box below, under “Leave a Reply”
A Good Soul. My brother Fredrick, sometimes he would give me rides to Latihan in the days long ago. Our conversation were unique and thoughtful. Peace and comfort to his very special family.
Sometime in the early 2000s Frederick and Melanie moved to a beautiful house they built overlooking the Hood canal outside Kingston. They began hosting the small group latihan for people on this side of the Puget Sound. Frederick was always so welcoming, always interesting conversation after latihan, always a sense of reaching out and gathering in of the flock so to speak. He and my former husband Robert k n i l l and Keith Ryan continued doing latihan for years. At a later point Frederick and Keith began coming to Roberts in Port Hadlock to go out to lunch together and do latihan. After Keith and Lucia moved to Portland Frederick continued to drive 45 to 50 minute s over the Hood Canal Bridge to come to Roberts. Our family has been so grateful to Frederick and his ongoing friendship with Rob as at age 96 the doctors wouldn’t let him drive anymore. He has been Rob’s one friend and connection to the latihan in these later years of his life. God bless his Sweet Soul and prayers for peace and comfort for Melanie and their children and grandchildren.
Oswald, Raina, Marlena, nice to see you here. This is a sad though thoughtful time. I met Frederick many years ago. Even though I have not seen him for years now, I recall him clearly, and remember him as a devoted Subud member, a helpful helper, and one with quiet humor with a twinkle.
Hard to see another brother go. An event that is happening more and more. Love and blessings for Frederick, his family, and all the others. Abraham