Frederick Retchin, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and active community and business leader, departed this life Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, following a brief illness.
Mr. Retchin was born on Sept. 9, 1929, to Ida Sarah Cohen and Raymond Retchin. He graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Economics, and he went on to run successful family furniture businesses, Carolina Furniture and Furniture City.
Mr. Retchin was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife of 43 years, Emma Kingoff Retchin.
He is survived by his cherished wife of 23 years, Corinne Ravel Retchin; son, Sander Retchin, and his wife, Cindy; daughters, Marcia Langsam, and her husband, Harold, and Roslyn Leopold, and her husband, Ted; Corinne’s son, Michael Ravel, and his wife, Cherie; grandchildren, Trey Bland, Paul, Sara and Sam Leopold, Emma Langsam, Billy Ravel and Samantha Carrisosa, and her husband, Reece; great-granddaughter, Lilly Carrisosa; brother, Daniel Retchin, and his wife, Pearl; sister-in-law, Janice Kingoff; and several nephews.
Mr. Retchin was respected by members of the furniture industry, and served as president and chairman of the Board of Southern Home Furnishings Association, vice president and member of the Board of National Home Furnishings Association, and 1984 winner of the Willis Award of Merit, awarded by Southern Home Furnishings Association. Additionally, he was a public servant and civic leader. Mr. Retchin served as president, Wilmington Merchants Association; member, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce; member, Board of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center and founding member of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation; board member, New Hanover County Commissioners, on which he served as chair for three of the eight years he served and in which capacity he was instrumental in establishing a professional and fully paid EMS service and in establishing a fully paid fire service for county residents; member, Board of North Carolina County Commissioners; chairman, Wilmington Chapter of the American Cancer Society; and member, New Hanover County Board of Social Services. Mr. Retchin also was president of B’nai Israel Congregation and National Board Member, Zionist Organization Hadassah Associates. At the time of his death, he was president of Carolina Bay Residents Council.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 7, at B’nai Israel Synagogue, 2601 Chestnut St., Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, where he received loving care his last few days and which his family wishes to thank.
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