Sean Fredrickson, president of the Pacific Northwest Section PGA, was killed on Sunday, July 5, when two small planes collided in mid-air several hundred feet above Powderhorn Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene in northern Idaho. Both planes then fell into the lake. Fredrickson was 48.
Left to right: Sean Fredrickson with his stepchildren Sofie and Quinn, and his son Hayden.
Others killed in the crash were Fredrickson’s son Hayden, 16, and his stepchildren Sofie Olsen, 15, and Quinn Olsen, 11. They were on a sight-seeing excursion in one of the small planes. In total, eight people were killed in the crash.
A spontaneous memorial for Fredrickson has already begun outside the Pro Shop at Oswego Lake Country Club.
Along with being president of the PGA Section, Fredrickson was the PGA Head Professional at Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego, Ore. He was awarded the PGA Professional of the Year honor in 2019 by the Pacific Northwest Section PGA. Fredrickson came to Oswego Lake CC in 2019, after having served as PGA Professional at Tualatin (Ore.) Country Club for 14 years. “The loss of Sean and his children is devastating,” said Bryan Fisher, general manager of Oswego Lake Country Club. “Sean was an exceptional golf professional. Oswego Lake Country Club was honored to have him as a member of our family. His positive spirit and joy for the game of golf was contagious. But more importantly, Sean was a tremendous husband, father and friend. Our love and heartfelt sympathy goes to his wife, April, his family and friends during this time of loss.” In a statement, the Pacific Northwest Section PGA said: “Sean was an incredible father, husband, PGA Professional, mentor and leader. There are never words to communicate the pain of such a loss. Whether through prayer or quiet reflection, please hold Sean and his family in your hearts. A rising star in the PGA, Sean led the Section through an unprecedented time, first taking the reins a year early as president and then leading us wisely through this pandemic. We are all better because of Sean’s leadership.”
Along with being the current president of the Pacific Northwest Section PGA, Fredrickson was named the Section’s PGA Professional of the Year in 2019.
Fredrickson always ended his monthly “President’s Report” with the sign-off, “See you all on the other side,” which, reading it now, sends a chill up the spine. You can view his final report, dated July 1, 2020,
here – it was published on the Pacific Northwest Section PGA website four days before his too-early passing. Information about a memorial service is pending.
