[GBW] Fred Harris Shihadeh obituary

[Cris C Takacs <crisctakacs@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Sent in by Elke Shihadeh.



Guild of Book Workers member Fred H. Shihadeh, 78, one of the premier hand bookbinders in America, died February 13, 2004

 

Mr. Shihadeh was born in east Orange, new jersey in 1925, to Jacob and Fadwa Shihadeh, recent immigrants from Palestine, and moved to Ardmore in 1931. he graduated Lower Merion High School in 1944 and graduated Penn State University in 1950 after taking a leave of absence to serve in the Army during World war II. After the war, he was stationed near Munich Germany, where he befriended a couple who introduced him to Elke Nissen, their niece, who was to become his wife.

 

Mr. Shihadeh was voracious reader and book collector and was fascinated with arts and crafts. As if by fate, Mr. Shihadeh met an old, German hand bookbinder who desperately needed an apprentice. Thus began a career which spanned over 40 years. He traveled extensively throughout Europe to acquire skills and archaic tools of his craft. In 1961, with his wife and partner, Elke, he bought his Craft to America and opened a hand bookbindery in Ardmore.

 

The Shihadehs restored some of the most important books and documents in American and European history, dating as far back as the 15th century, shortly after Gutenberg's invention of the moveable type printing press. They restored a two volume set of "The federalist Papers", essays in favor of ratification of the Constitution; "Broadsides" announcing the "Declaration of Independence" ; and original works of Audubon including a "double elephant-size"  set, which sold t auction for over three million dollars. The Shihadehs' work can be found in rare book collections of museums, universities and dignitaries throughout the world.

 

Mr. Shihadeh was also an inventor and patented the leather restoration formula known as "Fredelka", which is now marketed under the name of "Triple Crown".

 

When he was not working, Mr. Shihadeh enjoyed golfing, gardening and fishing, was an avid follower of politics, and was a serious student of the Bible. He died with the Christian hope of resurrection.

 

Survivors include his wife, Elke, his brothers Edward and Emil and their wives, and nieces and nephews, Karen, Sandra, Edward, Haley, Jacob, Max and Jordan, and cousins.

 

A viewing was held at Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home in Ardmore on Friday, February 20. Internment was private.

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