Frederick Efrem Trust, 88, passed away Friday, May 17, 2024 at his home with his family by his side.  

Fred was an exceptional athlete across multiple sports excelling at a young age in tennis. Growing up in Philadelphia he competed in regional and state tennis tournaments leading up to attending Penn State on a tennis and soccer scholarship where he was the captain of the tennis team. During his time at Penn State, he was known on campus as well for his loving collie, Duke, who was with him throughout his college career. One of Fred’s proudest moments throughout his young athletic career was playing on the soccer team that won consecutive national championships in 1954 and 1955. Fred recounted to everyone that he was responsible for the winning goal, one of his proudest moments.

After graduating, Fred left Pennsylvania in 1956 to attend law school in Washington DC at George Washington Law School. Rather than practice law he chose to become an entrepreneur. Fred developed many businesses in many disciplines, but his first business was in 1961 and was the first ever computerized medical billing system for doctors called Doctor’s Automated Billing Service. As the assistant executive director of the American Medical Society of Washington DC he saw the need for a more efficient way for doctors to do their billing. He eventually sold the company to Equifax in 1980. In 1976 he designed and built The Potomac Tennis Club in Maryland nearby where he lived for twenty years. During this time Fred had his first two children, Stephanie in 1967, and Christopher in 1970. 

In 1980 Fred moved to south Florida and he and Emily married there in 1983. He tackled many business projects but his favorite of these was the development of a long-distance telephone business in 1990, TransAmerica, which competed with ATT, Sprint, and MCI. 

In 1998 he chose to move to Savannah GA to enjoy retirement life to its fullest and raise his youngest son, Landon. Fred was an avid golfer who accomplished his first hole in one in 2002. He played on a daily basis for many years. 

Fred will be remembered for his sense of humor that runs in the Trust family, the twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes, his candid rye comments, and his ability to express his thoughts very directly. His amazing hidden talent was his wonderful voice when he sang Frank Sinatra and Harry Belfonte. He loved to coach both tennis and golf and draw out the best in those around him. His other loves were ice cream and chocolate, especially chocolate ice cream! He never went a day without both of them.

Later in life he developed Alzheimers. It was a 10-year journey that was navigated with much dignity. He died peacefully at home with the care of his loving wife and Hospice Savannah and surrounded by his loved ones.

Fred is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Emily. Those closest family members are his son Christopher (wife Salma, daughter Alessandra), son Landon (partner Lexi Kim), brother Ivan (wife Fay), nephew Stephen, along with many other treasured family members.

Fred was preceded in death by his daughter Stephanie, his brothers Morley and Benson, his parents Charles and Freda, and his beloved golden retriever, Scout.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Alzheimer's Association: https://act.alz.org/