Fred Leclezio

Having a cool last name is only a part of what makes my friend Fred an amazing human being.  A man of Mauritian descent with French ancestry, he was ‘South Africanized’ in Durban.  He has also had to opportunity to live and work in Montreal for a cigarette company.  Settled in Cape Town, Fred is capable of profoundly sardonic banter.  Having lost his wife Loren, the mother to his two young children, to a cruel and unforgiving cancer, Fred has continued to be an exceptional father with a stoicism, inner strength, and confidence; the likes of which I have not seen in anyone else.  Always up for a drink and a good ol’ South African braai, I suspect Fred is an honourary Afrikaaner among his late wife’s family as he is the proud owner of at least three different braais (BBQs). In my times with Fred - whether one-on-one or as dads with our kids - I’ve learned a lot from him about patience, love, and generosity.  From afar, I see a man of great focus, self-belief and mental fortitude.  Although Fred is younger than me, he has a wisdom beyond his years.