Fred Koerber was born and raised in Brunswick and has been an active member of the Brunswick community his entire life. He began teaching in the Brunswick school system immediately after his graduation from Gorham State College in 1970. Fred’s 38-year career of teaching History and Archaeology began at Brunswick Junior High School (BJHS) and concluded at Brunswick High School (BHS). His passion for teaching was felt by all. He was notable for challenging his students, and many former students have become life-long friends.
As a pioneering coach, he helped create an environment of equality between the boys’ and girls’ programs at BJHS. Fred eventually moved on to BHS to coach a couple of 1,000-point career scorers: Rita O’Connor Maines and Joanne Palombo McCallie, who became the first female high school basketball player from Maine to be named a Parade All-American. In his seven seasons of coaching BHS girls’ basketball, the team made six tournament appearances. Following his high school coaching experience Fred made his return to BJHS, this time coaching the boys’ team. Coach Koerber later served for over a decade as an assistant coach under Coach Todd Hanson with the BHS boys’ basketball team. In 2002, the BHS boys’ basketball team won the Maine Class A State Championship.
The ocean has always been a part of Fred’s life through commercial lobstering and spending time together with his family. An avid historian and environmental advocate, he has served on various public service committees including the Brunswick Recreation and Open Space Task Force and the Brunswick Comprehensive Planning Committee. In addition, he has been a board member of the Pejepscot Historical Society, the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, and the Maine Archaeological Society.
The Brunswick High School Class of 1980 led the effort to establish this fund, using proceeds from their Annual Dragon Golf Scramble for Scholarships. Awards from this fund are based on student financial need, after which recipients are requested to be graduates of Brunswick High School who have shown personal growth over their high school career and demonstrated a commitment to serving the common good.