HANOVER, NH — Fred Berthold Jr. was born in Saint Louis in 1922 and grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri. He completed his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College and received his PhD in Religion from the University of Chicago. Fred married Laura Bell McKusick in 1945 and both were ordained as ministers in the United Church of Christ. Fred was a member of the Congregational churches of both Norwich Vermont and Hanover New Hampshire.
Fred joined the faculty of Dartmouth in 1949, established the Department of Religion and became the first Dean of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation (1957-1962). He was appointed the first Preston H. Kelsey Professor of Religion in 1971. Fred initiated studies in comparative global religions and community service programs through the Tucker Foundation. He served as a professor and mentor to many generations of Dartmouth students, retiring from the college in 1993. Fred continued teaching classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, challenging conventional narratives of Christian history and promoting empathy and social justice concerns.
Fred is the author of “The Fear of God: The Role of Anxiety in Contemporary Thought” (Harper, 1959) and “God, Evil, and Human Learning: A Critique and Revision of the Free Will Defense in Theodicy” (SUNY Pr., 2004), and co-edited “Basic Sources of the Judeo-Christian Religion” (Prentice-Hall, 1962) and “The Future of Empirical Theology” (University of Chicago Pr., 1969).
Fred passed away on September 18 at Kendal in Hanover New Hampshire. Fred is survived by his four children, Marj, Daniel, Tim, and Megan and their families; and his granddaughter, Lily and her family; and great granddaughter Tallulah.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday October 12 at 11:00 AM in the Kendal gathering Room. Kendal is located at 67 Cummings Road, Hanover New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Fred Berthold Fellowship” of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation for Dartmouth College students to explore the relation between faith and service. The Tucker Center, 6154 South Fairbanks, Hanover, NH 03755.