Frederick John Bauer, of Newburgh, a Sales Associate for Consort Graphics and a long-time resident of the area, entered into rest on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh. He was 78 years old. The son of the late Hans & Helen (Forsythe) Bauer, he was born on August 20, 1935 in Schenectady, NY. On August 30, 1958, he married Claire (Gergen) Bauer in Rochester and the following year Fred graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology. A swimming scholarship got him into Albany Academy for three years. After one year of marriage and graduation from RIT he and his wife, Claire, moved to Washington, D.C. for his first job in the printing industry. Their first son was born and after a few years moved to the NYC area. A home was bought and a daughter and second son joined his young family and then came the purchase of a much loved summerhouse in the Catskills. After a long career in printing and a grown family raised, the move to Newburgh came about. Retirement wasn't quite in the picture for him so his role of Santa Claus filled the bill quite nicely. Fred's interests were numerous. He was treasurer of his church for a time, president of the local Lions Club, president of his ski club in NJ, he dabbled in photography, owned & rode his horse, owned a wooden, second hand boat that he almost got seaworthy and traveled to family and business in Europe and was a scuba diver. In addition to his wife, Claire, Fred is survived by his children, John of Morris Township, NJ, Karen of South Plainfield, NJ and Jim of Hillsborough, NJ; grandchildren, Matthew Bauer, Brittany and Chris Burton and Nathan, Owen & Ellie Bauer-Sheen; his sister, Helen Downes of Balston Spa, NY. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 pm on Saturday, February 22 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. A Funeral Service will follow at 4 pm at the funeral home.