 Nome resident Robert William Madden, 73, died Nov. 8, 2007, at Fat Freddie's Restaurant, the place he so loved. A memorial service will be from 1 to 4 p.m. today at the Nome Recreation Center. He was born to Mabel and Willis Madden on Aug. 1, 1934, in Scranton, Pa. Bob went by many names over the years, including Fat Freddie, Suction Sam, Mafia Bob, Buddha Bob, The Fat One and J.S.T.R.M.
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He grew up in Scranton, where he started his lifelong love of business. In 1952, he graduated from Greene Dreher High School along with hiswife-to-be, Connie Drake. After a year of college, he joined the U.S.Air Force. He was stationed at Cape Cod, where, on Nov. 17, 1956, hemarried Connie. Later he was relocated to Texas, where he graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1958. He served in Vietnam as an electronics warfare officer, flying 122 missions and receiving numerous honors from the military, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.After serving in many locations throughout the United States and Europe, Bob came to Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks in 1973.
Hisfamily wrote: "Bob retired from the military as a major shortly afterwards and then came to Nome in 1974, where for the past 33 years, he has worked tirelessly for the community. His first position was asthe CEO of Kawerak. Later on he went to work as Nome's city planner, where he was key in the development of the Nome Recreation Center, the Senior Citizen's Center and the Ambulance Building, among other projects. In 1993 he was elected as a City Council member, and servedthe public in this capacity until October of 2000.
"He owned and managed numerous businesses over the years, but he was always the mostproud of having served both ends of Nome's digestive system for 22 years as the owner of Fat Freddie's Restaurant and Suck N' Shine Septic Pumping. At Fat Freddie's, Bob mentored numerous people, teaching responsibility and instilling his work ethic to nearly 700 employees throughout the years.
His straight-to-the-point attitude and sense of humor will be missed by all." Heis survived by his loving wife, Connie Madden; his son, Bob Jr. and his son's fiancee, Sherrie Newman; his four grandsons, Dustin, Reese, Chaseand Shane Madden; and close friend Keri Scaggs.
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