Remembering Fred Fetterolf
With sadness we announce the death of retired Alcoa President and Chief Operating Officer, C. Fred Fetterolf on February 5, 2012, at age 83. Fetterolf had a distinguished 39-year career with Alcoa. He served as President of Alcoa from 1983 until his retirement in 1991, adding the duties of Chief Operating Officer in 1985. He is credited with helping to breathe life into the code of conduct that became the Alcoa Values.
“Mr. Fetterolf cared deeply about Alcoa and its people,” said Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld. “His dedication to the company, its values and to community service has had a lasting impact. He will be missed deeply by all who knew him.”
At the time of Fetterolf’s retirement, then Chairman and CEO Paul O’Neill said “Every Alcoan and every Alcoa shareholder owes Fred Fetterolf a great debt of gratitude. He has served with distinction and all who know him have valued his friendship and the special integrity he has brought to bear on every aspect of his work.”
Fetterolf joined Alcoa in 1952 as a sales trainee in Pittsburgh afterr earning a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Grove City College (Pennsylvania). He went on to hold a variety of sales and marketing roles in the chemicals, defense and mill product operations, and was elected a vice president in 1977. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Fetterolf held leadership positions in primary products operation, science and technology, and mill products.
Outside service work was part of Fetterolf's life. In retirement, Fetterolf was involved in numerous community and ministry initiatives including serving as chairman of the 1993 Billy Graham Crusade, board chair of Imani Christian Academy, board member of Communities in Schools, and an advisor to Family Guidance, Inc. In 2009, Fetterolf and his wife Fran were honored by the Fund for Advancement of Minorities Through Education (FAME) with the Andrew W. Mathieson Leadership Award; Fetterolf served as a board member for the non-profit organization for more than 16 years. He was a member of the Grove City College Board of Trustees for 21 years, leading the College’s first capital campaign, which exceeded the campaign goal of $60 million. In 2011, the college honored Fetterolf with its Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
Fetterolf was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania and served in the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Fran Spang Fetterolf.
