Frederick "Fred" Mintz

With respect and admiration, we remember the life of Frederick “Fred” Whitney Mintz, who passed away on June 28th, 2025, at the age of 92 in Bellingham, WA., with his wife Kathy by his side. Fred was born on June 1st, 1933, in Los Angeles, CA, to Mildred A. Bush and Jefferson E. Mintz. Fred is survived by his daughters, Nancy Mintz and Debrah Clemons, her children Marcus and Michael Rosen; his wife, Kathy Mintz; her sons Max, Wesley, Jeff, and Kenneth Rodriguez and his daughters, Skylar and Madalynn. Fred lived a life defined by purpose. He was a man who saw the world both by its beauty and complexity. He was a natural problem solver and visionary. He lived a long and meaningful life of exploration and engagement across a variety of professional pursuits. His sharp mind and innate interest in technology led him to always ask “why?” This prompted him to participate in research across a broad spectrum of scientific inquiry and invention. He published multiple papers in professional journals and produced over thirty patents. Fred was abandoned when he was a child. This trauma at such an early stage of development caused Fred to always look up to God; he would lie on the ground, stare at the sky, and plead with God for answers to his questions about the universe. When others reached out for answers, Fred looked up. As an adult, Fred attended and worked at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity. His spiritual drive led him to take a shepherding role as the founding pastor of three churches, an experience that led to everlasting friendships. One of Fred’s great joys in life was tackling problems and leading teams toward solutions. His keen mind and skills in organization and delegation produced positive results in all his professional pursuits, including his years of service as a volunteer Reserve Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. In that role, he contributed his technological and leadership skills. He was very pleased to be asked to participate in the preparations and provision of security during the Olympic Games in 1984, earning a Department Outstanding Achievement Medal for his efforts and another one for his role during the visit of Pope John XXIII. While serving in the LAPD reserve. Fred described the experience as “giving him a front row seat to the greatest show in the world” and helped shape his unique way of looking at the world and the people in it. During this time, he researched and developed what we now call the RBATS system, an electronic ankle monitoring system used to track individuals under house arrest, probation, and parole, as well as the use of a wristband that could monitor drug and alcohol usage through skin contact, which paved the way for today’s smart watches. During the 1960s, Fred shifted his sights to earthquake research at California Institute of Technology (Caltech). It was the time he spent here that helped prepare him for serving as the founding Vice President of West Coast University, where he procured the funding for their first brick-and-mortar building. He was sent by Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea to help develop advanced underground observation and monitoring systems. In true Fred style, he was seeking to debunk his wife Kathy’s investigation and use of “The Listening Program”, a cutting-edge software that uses auditory stimulation to improve cognitive function for children with learning challenges. As a result of his truth-seeking, he discovered the benefits of the program on improving these children’s ability to organize their thoughts. Together, they wrote a study validating the effectiveness of “The Listening Program.” Fred Mintz lived a life that blended Science, Theology, Technology, and Engineering. He leaves behind a legacy of deep thinking and will be remembered as a pastor, inventor, protector, and friend – and above all, a man who never stopped seeking the TRUTH. He said of himself, “I’m just an ordinary man who sometimes sees when others close their eyes.” Fred’s list of accomplishments is too vast for any obituary. Please click the link provided to view his Vita: Frederick “Fred” Mintz There will be a celebration of Fred’s life at the Bellingham Covenant Church on Aug. 13, 2025, at 2 p.m., with a light reception immediately following the service. An additional service will be held in California at a later date. Please check back for more details.

Frederick "Fred" Mintz

June 1, 1933 - June 28, 2025