Frederick J. Magnavito, Jr., Ph.D,  78, died Jan. 12, 2020.

Fred was born to Fred and Camille (Berté) Magnavito, Sr on July 30, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the oldest of three brothers. They attended public schools in Brooklyn. The family attended St. Catherine's Catholic Church, where Fred was baptized and confirmed. He attended New Utrecht High School and graduated in June 1959. He attended Hunter College from 1959-1964, then was drafted into the Army serving two years with six months in Vietnam.

Upon discharge in 1966, he finished his college courses and graduated from Hunter college in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Fred entered Master's program in Psychology at Temple University, Philadelphia, in 1968. The next year he was accepted as a Resident Assistant in the Dormitory at Temple University and met his future wife, Sandra Hadley. They married in August 1970 at the Chapel of Four Chaplains, at Temple, then graduated in 1971 with a Master's degree In Psychology.

By April 18 ^th Angela was born. In June 1972, they moved to Austin, Texas, where Sandy taught in the bilingual program while studying for her Master's degree at the University of Texas. Fred got a job in San Antonio in 1975 as Project Coordinator for Laryngeal cancer research at University of Health Science Center. By 1977, They welcomed their second child Freddie on April 15 ^th . In 1978, Fred was accepted into the Ph.D. program at North Texas State University. He completed his coursework, then internship and residency ai San Antonio, and graduated in 1981.

He accepted the position of Team Leader of the Vietnam Vets Center in Rapid City from August 1981 to 1986. He then transferred to The Veterans Hospital in Fort Meade, as a staff Psychologist. He remained at Fort Meade until 2004, when he took early retirement. He then accepted the position of Staff Psychologist for the Sheriff and Police Departments from 2004 until 2018. During that time, he provided services to the State Division of Criminal Investigation, Box Elder Police Department, Custer County Sheriff's Department, Pine Ridge Reservation Police Department, and taught courses at the Police Academy. He also taught a couple of Psychology courses in the Master's in counseling program for SDSU Rapid City Campus.

He was a member of the American Psychological Association, SD Psychological Association, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, American Association of Suicidology. From 1990 – 2017, four Governor's re-appointed Fred to the Board of Examiners of Psychologists for the State of South Dakota. He served as President from 1993 – 2017. Fred was part of the crisis team from Rapid City that went to New York City to debrief first responders after 911.  In 2017, he accepted a Service Award from the State & Provincial Psychology Board at their annual meeting at the Hilton Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Fred retired from law enforcement in June 2018 after fighting a brave battle with Glioblastoma since September 2014. He and Sandy moved to Westhills Village in February 2019. This brain cancer was known to take one's life in less than a year, yet Fred survived 5 years after two surgeries at the Mayo Clinic, radiation and chemotherapy without pain or any of the side effects that usually come with these treatments.

He continued to work above and beyond what was expected of his because he loved working with Vets, then with Law enforcement officers. He didn't view it as "WORK" but looked at being helpful to his buddies in times of need.

His other love was being home with his wife and children. He enjoyed going on cruises with Sandy to the Caribbean, Alaska, and visiting Sandy's high school in Kingston, Jamaica. He managed to give back to the community by joining various organizations (WAVI, Front Porch Coalition, PFLAG, VFW (Lifelong member), Friendship House, KATHARSIS). He also served on the discernment committee for the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota. He was active at St. Andrew's and served as Senior Warden of the Vestry and on the Search Committee.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Camille and Fred Magnavito. He leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Sandy, and their two children, Angie and Freddie. Angie's children, Alessandra and Geovanni Mora. Freddie's Husband, Daniel. Fred's brother, Robert and sister in law, Eileen, Brooklyn, NY and their two children, Robbie and his wife, Amanda, and three daughters (Gianna, Ariana, & Sarina) of Brooklyn, NY., and Joey Magnavito.  Fred's other brother, Tony and his wife, Nancy, of Staten Island, NY and their children, Anthony and his wife, Lina of Staten Island, and daughter Camille and her husband, Ben Smith, of Kutztown, PA.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Osheim Funeral Home, with a Wake service at 6:00pm. Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 910 Soo San Drive, Rapid City, on Wednesday January 15, 2020 at 11:00 am followed by a luncheon. The Internment will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery at 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 16, 2020.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to Westhills Village Foundation or to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.