Many of you may remember my dad, Fred Epps, who was front and center of Pegasus for about 30 years.
After several years of declining vitality (during which he refused to go to the doctor–don’t be that guy!), he was diagnosed with cancer on June 1st, 2025. His health declined very rapidly after that, even as we were waiting for more information from the doctors.
He passed away peacefully at home in the early morning of June 18th after only two days in hospice care. That’s just the way he would have wanted it—no long lingering for him. He would have been 72 in August.
Do you have a memorable Fred story? Or even just something simple to say in his memory? Please share it in the comments! I (Emma) will make sure my mother (Lanthe) sees all of them.
I first went to Pegasus Book Exchange in December of 1987, I think. I had recently finished up at The Evergreen State College and moved back to Seattle to move in with my mom and make my next move. I lived in the Admiral District with her. I wanted to buy a copy of Peter Straub’s “Ghost Story” because I was obsessed with writing horror fiction at the time. Evergreen will do that to a guy. Fred had a nice clean copy for a reasonable price, and we chatted. I figured he must be a horror fiction specialist.
Nope, he was a specialist in every genre I ever mentioned to him. I told him years later that my mother was looking for a new British mystery writer to read, and after asking me a few questions about her tastes, he suggested Peter Robinson. Man, was that on target! Mom became a Peter Robinson fanatic! I even brought her into the store in her wheelchair around 2017 or 18. Fred and Eric were very kind to her. My mom was a reclusive type person, and they made her feel at home.
I remember on a different occasion, I walked up to the counter with a John Connolly Charlie Parker mystery. Concerned that I might have been looking for Michael Connelly instead, Fred warned me that Irish writer John Connolly’s novels were very violent and not for everyone. He told me that those books had a disturbing supernatural element. I told him I’d recently read “Every Dead Thing” and Fred relaxed.
“Okay, you know who you’re going to read. Enjoy!” he said.
I just found out today that Fred passed away. What a loss to the readers of Seattle. I am very sorry. I have been out of circulation and missed the sad news.
Fred. That cat was copacetic! to borrow an adjective from Clete Purcell, James Lee Burke’s wildest character. Purcell is described as a “junkyard crashing down a staircase” in the Dave Robicheaux novels, Burke’s most popular series.
Fred. What didn’t that dude know.? I never caught him up short that’s for sure.
I miss him.
–Ben
I’ve always felt at home in bookstores, and when I discovered Pegasus decades ago, I knew it was and continues to be a special place. I still love walking through the door. At first, it was simply because of the warm welcome Fred always offered. Then it was the fact that he always remembered my name when recording my trades or purchases on the well-worn index cards. Now it’s because he immediately comes to mind.
In the early days I quickly realized this was a really smart guy with a passion for knowledge and reading. I admired him for creating a business that honored people and community—the store felt like an extension of who he was. I’ve missed him, and am sad to read of his passing. Thank you to wonderful Emma and the great team for keeping his legacy alive while stewarding Pegasus’ continued valuable presence in our community.
Pegasus was one of the first businesses I came to when moving to West Seattle in 1997. My love of books had me in awe of such a gem. I filled my little car floor to ceiling with books I wanted to trade in ( maybe this is why there’s a maximum donation amount now 😉😊. ) Fred was always smiling and full of helpful info. To this day I have fond memories of just hanging out there looking at all the books. Fred never shooed me away or tried to hurry me through. My son who is now 24 also spent many afternoons as a toddler and then teenager there by my side , trading , donating and buying many books that we can read together. Thank you Fred for being such a great small business owner and wonderful human. I pray your son and family keep this great store open for decades to come for other families to enjoy
Thanks for the kind words, Dawn! But Fred doesn’t have a son! Do you mean me, his daughter Emma?
Hi Emma ! Yes, I meant to say daughter ! ( I had son on my brain due to writing about mine )…. So sorry! I tried to edit it but couldn’t find a way to do this after hitting the submit button. I must learn to proofread before sending!
Dear Emma, I just now found about your father. Fred and your mother, Lanthe, were my friends since 1980. In fact, your mother insisted that I become a so-called mail order minister so that I could officiate at their wedding — which I was honored to perform.. I also, recall as if it were a few months ago, when you were born as well… Your mom and dad lived few blocks off Alki Beach and I went there many times from my place off SW Admiral Way.. I subbed in Fred’s bookstore a few times before it was located in the “Junction.” Your mom and dad, and I, go way back.. Please accept my deepest condolences… Jim Jeffrey
I was on my way to Easy Street Records and came upon a storefront and in front was a bookshelf of books for $1. I looked inside the window and there were books everywhere and thought, well I was on my way to buy an album/cd but go inside and see what happens. I was met by a friendly tall fellow reading a book and he asked me what I was interested in I said, just browsing and he went back to reading. I’m not an avid reader, but as I walked through Pegasus Book Exchange browsing I found several books of interest that came home with me that day. I would stop by again and again exchanging books and saying a brief hello to Fred. I noticed he was absent one visit and that his daughter had taken the helm, and was informed he retired. I thought, ah more time for him to read uninterrupted. It’s been over twenty years since I first stepped into Pegasus and so greatful to see it continues as it began in light of all the changes in the california junction. My condolences to Lanthe, Emma, and all the Epps relations. Fred leaves a wonderful legacy.
So grateful for the community member he was. What a loss! An avid reader and there is no better citizen! Sincere condolences.
I’ve hung out in book shops as long as I can remember, and worked in them throughout high school and college. Anywhere I travel I try to find a local shop and buy a book there. Moving to W.S. 23 years ago was no exception, and finding Pegasus was like hitting the motherlode. Fred said I looked like a “Walt,” and thus was my name entered into the store credit log. Emma got a kick out of this and called me Walt with one eyebrow arched just so by way of greeting. Anybody else looking up my credit was temporarily befuddled.
At the time I had a one-year old son. But he’d be joined by two brothers over a little time, and we all darkened Pegasus’ door on the regular. The boys called it “Fred’s,” as in, “hey, can we go to Fred’s?” They all know the store through the eras of their reading evolution from kids books to YA to now.
Of course along the way Eric and I became fast friends (it’s a terrific name for exceptional people) and he’s pulled shenanigans such as delivering vampire romance novels I “ordered” to Easy Street when he’s espied me through the window. But this is about Fred, may he forever be able to unerringly find the one copy of a volume buried amidst the voluminous stacks in the great bookstore in the sky.
Fred always struck me as the Bookman’s Bookman — like he just stepped from a movie with mid-Atlantic accents. Quick with a quip, a smile, a kind word, a bookish opinion, bit of minutiae, you name it. Crisply efficient but not terse, moving with hummingbird-like speed around the shop. Armed with a memory Robert Langdon would be jealous of. We are edified by Fred and his memory is ever at hand.
And we’ve not plans to stop hassling Emma, Eric and the gang in the days ahead. Sorry, not sorry.
I was talking to my daughter the day I learned of Fred’s passing, and together we discussed how Pegasus has always been such a meaningful center for our community, and for our family. My daughter is in her twenties now, but when she was young and just beginning to be allowed to walk down California avenue after school with her friends and no adult, we always told her, “If anything worries you, you can always go to Pegasus and read books in the kids’ section—Fred knows who you are.” What a gift. Much peace and love to the whole Pegasus family.
I was very sorry to hear of Fred’s passing, I’ve been coming to Pegasus since 2009. Fred was always very pleasant, knowledgeable and helpful no matter what books I was intent on discovering that day. I love the welcoming atmosphere he created, we need places like this, unrushed, and friendly. I will truly miss his warmth and kindness. Rest in Peace Fred. Stefani
We were very sorry to hear about Fred’s passing. We began going to the store in 2003 when we moved to West Seattle. Fred created such a warm and welcoming place and was fun to talk to about book ideas. We started bringing our daughter in when she was three or four around 2011. She learned a love for books and reading in large part because of Pegasus and its great vibe (and my store credit 😉). For that we’ll always be grateful.
Sincerely,
Matt, Erika, and Bianca
We have always felt so lucky to have the bookstore in our neighborhood for all these years, fostering a love for reading in all of us. Thank you Fred!
Hi Emma, sorry for your loss. Of course we know Fred. We’ve been coming to Pegasus since 1997!Fred, he was always so fun to chat with about books and getting to know West Seattle. I’m a SciFi fan and he always had a great stock of classic sci-fi. Always with a smile on his face & a look that invited you to browse as long as you liked. He’d remind me to bring stuff to “sell”. And you knew once you got that card, he’d remember you and he’d know pretty much about how much credit you still had and of course you’re a customer – really more of a member of the Pegasus fan club for life. Our now 23 year old son grew up on those kids books – good memories hanging out back with kid books! So wonderful that you, Eric and the whole crew are continuing Fred’s legacy in West Seattle. M, B & D -Pegasus Book lovers for life!
When my wife and I first landed in West Seattle, Fred and the Pegasus team welcomed us like old friends. They didn’t just sell books—they gave us a place to belong. Fred’s quiet bookish-ness, his easy smile, and that genuine warmth made those early days feel less like moving to a new city and more like coming home. He had a way of making you feel seen without saying much at all. That’s rare, and it mattered.
Wishing you and your family peace, comfort, and the kind of stories Fred loved—ones that stay with you long after the last page.
I knew Fred when he was stationed in Misawa Japan in 1975 to 76. We had many conversations with Fred about music especially Jazz he introduced me to Sonny Rollins. We talked about and listened to Patty Smith and Bruce Springsteen. We talked about art. Conceptual art. We discussed many books like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintence. We explored the countryside of Japan and many good restaurants. It was a memoral time for me and him. I visited him once in the bookstore he was doing what he loved. My name is John Feeney I am from Rockaway Beach in NYC. Fred visted me here in the spring of 1978. I will be thinking of him today on his birthday. I am sending good wished to his famiky and friends gathering today at his at the memorial gathering. Peace and Love John.
Fred was my first friend when I moved to Seattle in 1979, simply by sitting behind the book counter at Pegasus and visiting with me. I’m not sure I would have felt at home in West Seattle, if not for Fred. Thank you for carrying on his legacy, Emma and team.
I’m sorry for your loss. Fred was great. Every visit to the store to find or discover a book was an uplifting experience thanks to Fred’s insights, thoughtful conversation, and smile.
When I moved to West Seattle in 2002 and found a great bookstore up the street I was thrilled. I stopped by regularly to shop (my favorite were the discount books out front!) and Fred was always kind and insightful. One time when I brought in wedding planning books and bought baby books he commented about the cycle of life and how you can see it in people’s books. He saw so many over the years. Another time he told me that a man came in and asked about the business and he explained how it worked and the man said “that will never work!” And he told him “it’s been working for decades”. I wish I could have seen the man’s face.
As my kids got older they loved to sit in the back and look at all the books and pick out an armload to go home with. The easy access to affordable books meant both my kids had full bookshelves and a thousand hours of contented reading. They are now in high school but I treasure our outings at Pegasus dearly. Both of my kids were very sad to hear of his passing. I felt a big sense of loss too. People can make such a difference in the fabric of your life and he was one of those.
I just now found out about Fred’s passing and is quite a shock. He is was such a gentle soul. A vivid memories is, a few years ago I seen him sitting in a restaurant totally engrossed in a book and thought, “This would make a good advertisement for Pegasus.”
I feel blessed to have known him.
“Takk for alt” appears on many Norwegian tomb stones. It means thanks for everything about the person’s life. Isn’t this very appropriate for Fred.? He always knew just the book that a person might enjoy. He welcomed everyone and made them want to return again and again. He was very involved in the community with school donations and pre covid helped donate books to Harborview and the VA.
For a small bookstore the collection and variety are amazing thanks to Fred’s knowledge of books and people. To remember him and his life with joy I hope is what his family will do.
I don’t really have a specific Fred memory, just that he was always there and part of what I think of as the West Seattle community. He was loved and will be missed. Hoping his wonderful institution, that fabulous bookshop, keeps on and thrives. My condolences to the family and friends.
Love Pegasus and family, sorry for your (our) loss. How can we honor him, is there any organization he loved that we can donate to, in memory of?
He really just wanted people to support small businesses and local artists and musicians, that would be enough :)
Very sad. I’ve been meaning to bring some books over for credit. Just the nicest guy.
I just read that Fred had passed on 6/18, and I am SO very sorry! My husband Tony and I had been his customers the whole 30 yrs he was in business. We appreciated every book he found for us, with his amazing recall of titles, authors, and themes. Simply astounding.
We’ve been coming into Pegasus for many years and have lovely memories of Fred and his recommendations for books to try. We’re still stopping by the store for books for us, for our kids and now for our grandkids. Thanks for all the memories! Fred, we will miss you.
Fred!
Your shop was a major stop on the daddy-daughter weekend adventures. Kids now 19! I remember how she would nestle in the back corner there…we both had our favorite sections in the store!
Thanks for everything!!
Railroad Eric
For years I would show up a couple days before Christmas still shopping for gifts for my husband. I would come in with a list or just a genre and Fred would help me gather up about 10 or 15 fun and obscure books that my husband loved receiving. Stuff on rocks, bridges, airplanes, animals, jungles, soil, quirky human interest stories and assorted fiction. I always found just the right books. Our family sends our condolences to Fred’s family. Thank you for carrying on at the store. I’ll see you there in time for Xmas. :)
FOR FRED
MY MENTOR HAS PASSED
AND IT SEEMED VERY FAST
FOR THE BREADTH OF HIS MIND
IMAGINE THE LOVED ONES THAT YOU’VE LEFT BEHIND
YOU’RE A GENIUS—NONE CAN FOLOW YOUR THOUGHT
ALL THE BOOKS THAT I BOUGHT
HOW MY CONSCIOUSNESS GREW
ALL OF THIS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF YOU
THIS IS TRUE—CONVERSATIONS—SO MANY—
YOU EVEN HELPED BRING BACK A PIECE OF MY SOUL
WHEN JESUS YOU WELCOMED AND I BECAME WHOLE
STILL YOU FELT LIFE WAS ENDING AS YOUR ENERGY WENT
LIKE THE PENNIES FROM HEAVEN—EVERYONE HAD BEEN SPENT
I WISH I COULD TELL YOU ALL THAT YOU MEANT
YOU TAUGHT ME OF SOULMATES—YOU MIGHT GET ONE OR TWO
WHEN I LOOKED FOR A TEACHER IT ALWAYS WAS YOU
IN A WORLD FULL OF PEOPLE—THE KINDEST OF HEART
THE SOUL OF A GIANT—YOU’RE MY FAVORITE ART
THE KNOWLEDGE WE SHARED IT WAS KIND OF A DREAM
YOUR BRILLIANCE AND WISDOM –YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU SEEM
COULD I HUG YOU GOODBYE IT WOULD FEEL LESS ALONE
AS YOU WALK WITH THE GIANTS –I AM HAPPY YOU’RE HOME
TRACY HAROLDSEN
©6.19.25
Fred and I had been in contact most days out of the past year, so I had a bad feeling when he mentioned health issues and his communication started to drop off. It’s really great to read what others have written here and get a fuller picture of who he was and the bookstore he had mentioned he owned. Hearing what you say makes me wish we had talked more about books and all sorts of other crazy topics, but then I remind myself that we really did talk about all sorts of things. Our lives, philosophy, the occasional author yes, but mostly music. There was always just too much music to be discussed, so other things were inevitably going to take a bit of a backseat to that.
We had talked so much that I felt like I knew Fred pretty well, despite only having known him for a year and never in person. We met online, right around the time I was selling the property I had owned in Washington, due to a disability. It was pure coincidence that he also lived in Washington. I mention that only because Washington has always felt like home, even though I only technically lived there for a few years and have spent most of my life stuck in Minnesota where I am now.
I ran into him on an Unusual Music Creators Discord server and right away wanted to collaborate after hearing his music (https://audio.com/fepps). We started messaging and I remember my first thought being “man, this guy is verbose” (only a compliment, I assure you! It endeared him to me immediately). There was much about us that was complementary, a tendency to write darker music for one thing. But far beyond that, I’m a musician who’s lost the use of his hands so singing is the one thing I can still do with any sort of proficiency, whereas Fred’s instrumentation was absolutely top-notch and yet his singing was, shall we say… objectively less good (he would be the first to admit it!) His sense of composition, melody, etc. continually blew me away and he was always very complimentary of my vocal and lyrical ability. It’s no stretch to say that he was the best composer I’ve ever worked with. I was very conscious of it throughout the whole year, of how fortunate I was to have found someone this good who wanted to write music specifically for my voice. All I wanted to do was keep churning out songs.
And so did he. We could both commiserate about being in a bad mood when not able to work on music. And so we always did. Completely separately, it turned out that we were both trying to create “song factories” (as he put it). Did you know he wrote close to 50 songs last November alone? Truly prolific. I couldn’t possibly keep up with adding vocals to all of them, but still he would constantly show me the songs he was working on, so I could have the pick of them if I wanted. It was great! Something irreplaceable.
He will really be missed, on multiple levels. I already feel the void of not having him around to bounce ideas off of, musically or otherwise. I considered him a good friend. And I know he considered me a friend as well, because he said as much. Rest in peace Fred, wherever you are now.
P. S. He also had an esoteric knowledge of obscure patents, long-buried. If you or anyone else knows how to put a noiseless circuit (audio or electrical) to use, he would really appreciate that one in particular seeing the light.
I met Fred Epps and became a Fred Fan when Pegasus Book Exchange was located near the south end of Alaska Junction. I dropped in looking for a book introducing me to the Science Fiction genre. After a brief chat, Fred determined I was actually looking for Fantasy. He recommended Raymond Feist’s “Magician”. Fred’s selection for me was a perfect match. (Even after 4 epic book purges, this paperback, with meaningful provenance, remains in my collection 33 years later.)
Fred created a welcoming vibe at Pegasus. His smile and easy banter were compelling. His “uniform” of jeans and t-shirts were comfortably familiar. Fred was a Biblio Guru. He curated an interesting assortment of books at Pegasus. Fred could quickly locate a specific book or make a spot-on recommendation. Pegasus became my go-to for All Things Book (communing, seeking, discovering, purchasing, reading). Since my first encounter with Fred, I spent countless, treasured hours hanging out with him amongst the books at his Pegasus. I thank him for that. I remain a Fred Fan and Pegasus Devotee!
I am a music producer and I know his passion was also music. And he wasn’t afraid to show it. One day he messaged me if I would like to collaborate with him on making a track, to which I agreed. I was in the middle of producing an EP, so I thought our track could be featured on it, which has later happened. He told me he was quite a good person in terms of producing ambient/dreamscape type music, and that was what we later agreed on making. After a few revisions, we decided to make two different arrangements of that track, which I then released as an A/B, and one of them later appeared on that EP I mentioned before. We were then talking about some stuff regarding music, my career and similar things, but after that we wouldn’t really talk to each other until 6 months later, when I asked for some feedback regarding my upcoming track. Today I came back home from my long weekend and read the new message from his account. I’m not going to talk about my feelings, but may he rest in peace. I inserted the link to that EP in the “Website” box.
Fred had this keen sense in having exactly what someone was looking for. In 2014, my son and I went to Pegasus to inquire if they had any old hardbacks we could use for an elementary school craft fair. We explained that we were going to repurpose and create hidden spaces in them so that someone could store small items concealed as books. As luck would have it, Fred took us into the back room and showed us a box of old items he said they were going to get rid of…and to take what we wanted. They were perfect, as if he put them aside knowing someone would be looking for discarded books no one would otherwise be interested in. That year, the craft table sold out in the first hour and those items found new homes. (The best one being a big dictionary, that a teacher immediately took).
Pegasus is a community staple, however Fred, Emma, Eric (and others) have been the heart and soul of making it a welcoming and meaningful place to go to. What a wonderful legacy.
I met Fred online through a mutual interest in music production. We both frequented a Discord server called Synthwave Dojo; he stood out as someone with an interesting combination of life experience, a deeply-ingrained drive to get beyond the boundaries, and a child-like curiosity and inquisitiveness. All expressed through a sharp intellect. His perspective on music was great – he wanted to absorb and then break the genre rules. I suspect that was a common thread in his approach to life.
I met Fred online on Discord in a server centered around music of the particularly experimental and forward-thinking type. Fred had a deep passion for music, he told me of how he’d record a cut-up cassette tape through a cheap mic and distort it. we worked on some music of this kind together at one point. we might have been an ocean and some generations apart, but i will forever cherish his view of music, and never will i let go of the direct praises and even some indirect critiques he had of my own music. Rest well Fred.
Thank you for all the amazing memories I had making music with you online. May you rest in peace, Fred. May all your wonderful crazy music creations live on
I grew up in West Seattle and then returned as an adult. I have memories as kid of the thrill of independence as I rode my bike to Pegasus. I probably spent hours browsing without spending a penny, yet Fred treated me not as a kid or potential shoplifter but as the little adult I knew myself to be inside. What a gift for a grown-up to give an introverted, bookish child. I have a clear vision of Fred sitting at his desk amidst piles of books and say a friendly hello but otherwise leaving me be – Fred’s resemblance to Stephen King in my child-brain (this was the 1980s, and I had recently been traumatized by Cousin It) has left the two permanently conflated in my brain such that I still think of Fred sitting at that desk every time Stephen King comes to mind.
As an adult, I feel the spirit of Fred alive every time I go into Pegasus. I love that the team takes books seriously, but not so seriously to be patronizing or snobby. Many, many kudos to Emma and the whole team for keeping Pegasus thriving (and improved! The shelves are much easier to navigate now than they were back then! The ability to order new books!) and for maintaining the vibe, which feel true to its origins as Fred’s place. Pegasus is definitely at the heart of the community, then and now. Thank you Fred and the whole team!
I was only in Seattle once (can’t remember what year, but within the past 15) and I took a taxi to Pegasus in hope of saying Hello to my Cousin Fred. I remembered him well from early days but had not seen him in many years. He wasn’t there that day, but I got to meet Emma. I’m glad I made the effort, glad I met Emma, and glad Fred lived the life he apparently loved! Peace be with all!
I am so sorry to hear about Fred. He was just a super guy and was always so friendly and knowledgeable about questions that I might have had about books. When I would bring my late mom over from Queen Anne, she loved Pegasus. Fred always had a good selection of time travel romances that she loved.
Thanks, Fred, for the recommendations and for making my mom happy with her beloved book finds.
I moved to West Seattle from the “burbs” in 1998. I had a 9-month-old and an 18-month-old and to save my sanity, I knew I needed to find a good bookstore. A neighbor told me about Pegasus. It was more than a bookstore – it had Fred! We started talking and the rest, as they say, is history. We talked about Peter Robinson and Greg Iles, Richard Powers and Hilary Mantel, William Gibson and China Mieville – the list goes on. It was always a joy to spend time with him and Jimmy and Eric and I’m so happy that Emma is there to carry on. My kids are now 27 and 29 and still talk about our trips to Pegasus for that special book. Fred, you spirit continues on with your wonderful staff. Thank you for your kindness, your knowledge and every single new book you introduced me to.
When we moved to West Seattle 13 years ago, the first thing I did was find the local bookstore. As soon as I walked into Pegaus books, I felt at home there thanks to the welcoming environment Fred spent years curating, which Emma, Eric and the rest of the Pegaus staff have magnificently carried on. I didn’t get to know Fred very well, but my family and I have sure appreciated the community of readers he fostered and encouraged here in West. My kids loved browsing first the kids section, and then the teen and adult books; they were raised as readers thanks to Pegasus. The generous trade-in policy/credit policy meant we could always afford books for our kids.
My thoughts are with Emma and the Pegasus family; Fred will be greatly missed. Thank you for carrying on his legacy and continuing to foster new generations of readers in this beloved shop.
Rest in peace, Fred. You left an incredible legacy in West Seattle. Thank you for being kind and helpful to all of us, even when we just stopped by to ask a question. When my kids were in grade school/middle school, they would go there directly after school, which I loved as I knew it was not only a supportive, safe place, but that their love of books would be fostered there.
Thank you so much, Fred.
Katrina and I moved to Seattle in 1995, Pegasus was one of the first places that we discovered. We brought books there for years and years, and sometimes someone at the store would choose not to take our books, Fred would see that happen and step in and take our books anyway. He was always happy to take my read martial arts books, any occult books I was willing to pass on, all sorts of science fiction for me and Katrina. It’s been such a joy to bring my son to the store and to continue to buy stuff there. Thanks Fred for being so welcoming and kind. And thanks to you all for keeping the store going. Warmly, Jeremy Hulley
Oh, we will miss Fred!
We moved to West Seattle in 2001, and Pegasus Book Exchange soon became our favorite spot to browse for classics and new discoveries, and to bring our books to trade. Fred was one of the main reasons we loved the shop – he was such a good guy, ready with a book recommendation, a funny anecdote, or a chat about favorite authors.
When our kids were born, we brought them to Pegasus to pick out their own books, and they started their own credit accounts. Fred was always kind to the kids, enthusiastic and encouraging them to read from various genres. We remember when he helped our 1st grade son find a few elusive out of print Calvin and Hobbes collections. And, he offered our younger daughter the chance to bring back books to start her own trade account in her name.
Fred and Pegasus are interwoven with our kids’ childhoods. This news is made even more bittersweet as our oldest (the Hobbes fan), graduated from high school this week, and our youngest finished her first year of Bulldog Reads with help from Pegasus.
Fred, you were a neighborhood friend, a kind person, and a great conversationalist. We will miss you and are grateful that your spirit loves on in your bookstore. 💔
Fred was in the store the first few times I visited Pegasus over a decade ago, and he is one of the reasons I fell in love with the store. He was instrumental in what makes Pegasus an amazing store because he was an amazing person.
Whenever I would come in to browse, when I had a break from West 5. I could always count on seeing Fred in the back sitting down reading with his legs crossed. He would be reading the most wide range of subjects, I have ever seen. Always kind and friendly. He will be missed by many.
oh my this is really heartbreaking. I’m so sorry for Fred’s family to hear of his sudden decline and passing. My sympathies go out to his family and friends.
He was a fun (and funny) guy to chat with about books and life. When I moved into the neighborhood in 1989 from north seattle, Pegasus instantly became my favorite place on CA Ave (still is!), a comfy kind of place where I would stop in after getting off the bus from work just to hang out, step around the piles on the floor, and browse my favorite shelves before going home. It was mostly, or all, used books then. Fred knew all the inventory, and when I was on a mission to find a particular old Sci Fi story within a particular anthology whose name I could not remember, he knew the story, and he knew the anthology, and he found the book on the shelves for me. He knew so much about sci fi. I thank him and the rest of you for keeping the shop going during the downturn of independent bookstores, during covid, and now during the resurgence of real books. The window displays by the sidewalk always catch my eye. Thank you.
Rest in Peace Fred. Love and hugs to Lanthe and Emma. We are so sorry for your loss. Fred was always welcoming and such a kind person. This book shop is a treasure to our West Seattle community. He made it, nurtured it and passed it on. 🩷
My kids and I visited Fred often when we lived in West Seattle. Many fond memories of conversations with Fred. Although I don’t visit often anymore having moved out of the area, I still visit Pegasus when I can.
Fred, sorry to hear it’s tough getting around. Take care!
I just want to pass on a note to wish Fred well! When I saw the post for Pegasus/Fred stories, I wasn’t sure what I’d be reading, but as soon as I saw his picture, I knew who we were talking about.
Fred wouldn’t know me. With all the faces he’s seen, I’m just one of many West Seattle born folks who know of Fred but never really knew him at all. That’s why I feel compelled to write.
Fred was always so nice to me. I was a teen who was more comic book than famous novel. But I loved used book stores, record shops, used/vintage anything! I liked my sports biographys and probably bought Bo Knows Bo at Pegasus.
My friend in youth was the grandson of the Terjungs gift store family and we would sell candy together outside during the WS Junction Street Fairs in the late 1980-early90s. I worked the ice cream counter at Husky deli in high school. That kind of WS kid.
That whole corner, from Easy Street to Pegasus and Turjungs felt like family and home to me. Fred was always patient with me, looking back now, and with my Dad, trading books and stopping in for whatever.
Fred’s charm and smile and patience and that unique voice was memorable to me as a West Srattle kid. This is all I have to say, but I feel compelled to write bc Fred’s presence in WS was so strong to me.
I know many others must have more detailed interactions. So I will cede my time to them. What a truly great man! Thank you Fred, and to your family for continuing the Pegasus journey. Peace be with you all
I think of Fred as a friendly gatekeeper— willing to open wide this path to fun and learning. And to keep it open all the time for everybody.
Pegasus has been such an integral part of life here in West Seattle. When I first started coming to Pegasus in the mid-90’s, my Mom and I were reading the entire JA Jance Beaumont series set in Seattle. It was Fred that kept us well stocked and it was Fred that got my husband and I started with store credit. “Don’t forget to bring them back and trade them in for credit “ he reminded us.
It was Fred that met me at the back door with my huge box of books after my husband passed away and helped me as I started to downsize our collection. Yes, there were some more JA Jance gems in that box and I was wearing a mask as it was during those COVID days. Nice to see Fred!
Pegasus remains a staple of our West Seattle community and we have Fred to thank for establishing what continues to be a wonderful place full of books and people that love to read. Thanks, Fred!
I moved to West Seattle in 1991, moved to my current home in 1994. I’ve lived here ever since. A bookstore is like your home.
You cherish it.
Fred, you must know every book in the world, I had always thought! You certainly knew your books. Whether you had the book I was looking for or you’d know how to get it. I miss seeing you but you are in a good spot in Skagit lands! The current employees have taken the torch with excellence.
Wishing you well, and thank you!
My mom, sister, and I moved to West Seattle in 1976, and a year or two later discovered a book store just a few blocks north from our apartment on Cal & Dawson. The owner’s name was David, if I remember right, and he had a young worker in the store, named Fred. David joined partnership with Margarita (hope I spelled this right) and then Margarita bought Dave out – but kept Fred :-) At that point maybe the store’s name became Pegasus? This was late 70’s. I would occasionally stop in and talk to Fred after school (WSHS) and buy books when I could afford to :-) Later Margarita left the business and Fred moved it further north, into the Junction where it’s been since. I may have gotten some of the details wrong, it’s been many years, but I hope I got the general gist of it correct. I spent some enjoyable afternoons talking to Fred about books and life.
I saw him again during lockdown, and he accepted boxes of books for trade in from me. it was nice to see and say hi to an old friend.
When I owned Square One Books in Jefferson Square, Fred and I would often send each other customers who wanted something we didn’t have, and we became friendly competitors. Fred was beginning to spend more time in Mount Vernon then, and frequently his employees would forget or misplace the key to open Pegasus and he would be too far away to help them out. Fred’s solution was to leave a key to Pegasus at Square One so his guys would have somewhere to borrow a key when needed. We frequently had great conversations on books and reading ideas and I missed him when he made Mount Vernon his home
I moved to West Seattle in 1981 and remember Fred when his store was located a block or so south on California. Every time I went to browse he would always engage me in conversation about books, politics, world history, etc. Fred was a wealth of knowledge and always willing to share.
I also remember the perpetually leaky roof on the older building.
Take care and be well Fred.
I moved to West Seattle in 1998 and almost immediately discovered the allure of Pegasus and the breadth of knowledge and humor of Fred. With a mother who was a librarian and insisting that our family not have a TV until everyone could not only read, but LOVE to read, it was natural that books were in my DNA. Fred had the same love of books. I remember one time telling him I envied him being around books all day and that I would love that. He laughed and said that to be a bookstore owner you need to not only know Samuel Clemens, but Nora Roberts, Isaac Asimov, and Agatha Christie as well. I replied that I love the Mark Twain, sci-fi, and mystery stuff, but was a little short on romance books. As I would exchange books over the years since, I always looked forward to seeing Fred and missed him when he quit coming in. I still miss him.
Pegasus is my favorite place in West Seattle, and that is due to you Fred! You started a place that is always welcoming and friendly. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful. That is your legacy, to create such a place. I miss seeing you there, but you are obviously an inspiration to everyone else and they continue to offer the conversation, assistance, and warmth that you provided. I love going to Pegasus and have such happy memories of going there when my kids were little and seeing how excited they were to browse through the kids section. Hope you are doing well and enjoying your retirement, and wish you all the best!
Hi Fred!
We moved to WS in November 2006 (from Tampa FL), found you directly after (our Tampa used bookstore was 2 sisters with a giant Fabio poster at checkout). Both David and I are avid readers, especially me. Both my Mom and my mother-in-law would send me boxes of books from afar to trade at Pegasus because they knew how much we loved your store. You with your welcoming smile and knowledge of everything in the store and Jimmy with his quiet recommendations because he paid attention. Then Eric, Oh Eric! And Emma carrying forward. Miss you Fred, still love your store and the self proclaimed Pegasoids within.
Pegasus has existed almost exactly since we moved to Seattle…and shortly after to West Seattle. Have exchanged and bought books periodically since. Almost always stop in when at easy st for breakfast or in junction. Fred knows books! And he was amazingly generous with his time reviewing mine and giving excellent friendly book service. Thanks!!!
When I first moved here in 2005 from Burien I remember seeing Fred walking on the sidewalk practically every time I passed thru the junction on foot or by car. I didn’t know yet what his business was in the junction, he was just someone I kept seeing. You know those people like that, they are neighborhood icons. Glad the bookstore is still here! Thanks for bringing it to us!
Because of Fred’s work, I’ve had so many moments of cozy and broadening experiences. For years while they were little, part of the adventures with my grandsons was stopping by “the used book store” to find a new treat. Those memories are held dearly as a time out of space, sentimentally past while sweetly present. Fred created a place that feels both homey and exotic, with a staff that has always been knowledgeable, familiar and welcoming.
Pegasus always been my go-to place for used books. Fred always amazed me with his ability to recall author name and book titles. His friendliness and smile were always
a welcome sight.
Exploring the Alaska Junction neighborhood after moving there, my husband and I soon discovered Pegasus Book Exchange. For the big move from New York State we had to sell or gift our furniture and donate our many books to the local library. Having now moved into a small apartment there was no room for book shelves. So it was indeed a treat to be able to purchase books and then return them for credit.
That’s what Pegasus Book Exchange was and still is about. We were delighted. And we were even more delighted when we met Fred the owner. He was not only welcoming, but very knowledgeable about books. With literature being a passion for both of us, this was a real gift. Eric and Jimmy, Fred’s wonderful staff at that time, were also such a pleasure to speak to and explore books with. Fred’s
daughter Emma we met later on and were equally impressed by her.
A few years ago we moved from West Seattle to Burien. But I in particular was still very much connected to the Junction and to Pegasus. Luckily I often saw Eric or Emma. But I did miss Fred. Later I learned that he either retired or semi-retired.
Pete and I were happy he got a well deserved break and that Emma was able to take over the business.
I still love to go to Pegasus and browse there. I met some new people, but am delighted that Emma and Eric are still there. I just stopped by yesterday and bought another couple of books. Eventually they go back to Pegasus for credit for more purchases. What a deal!
I understand that Fred took over Pegasus over 40 years ago and made into the wonderful place it has become. It is an important and much loved part of the community.
Best wishes and a big THANK YOU to Fred from Pete and from me,
Elisabeth Hurley
I first discovered Pegasus in 1997-8 on a visit to Seattle. During that time I was living in Portland, an easy ten-minute walk to Powell’s City of Books. Powell’s satisfied my book junkie needs, but I still made a point of visiting Pegasus whenever I was in Seattle. For the vibe. (Can I say vibe? Ambience.) It was a cozy little store (not a ‘city’), with plenty to read, and the chance to talk to Fred, another book person, about everything and anything. When I finally moved here in 2010, Pegasus was my go-to place, the first place I felt at home, for the exact same reason. Thank you, Fred.
For more than a decade I spent several hours a week hanging out at the Pegasus Book Exchange, just to talk with Fred. The subjects were wide ranging from UFOs to writing to healthy diets and alternative medicine. I cherish those conversations.
When I was homeless Fred treated me just like everyone else. Fred has a sincere respect for all individuals , the highest ideals of what the knowledge from reading and in books show cases those percepts of who Fred is and we love him for that.
One of my favorite childhood memories would be coming into Pegasus on rainy weekends with my dad. Fred’s warm smile would always greet us. We still miss seeing him!
While working as a barista at Easy Street I’d see Fred frequently, his Kurt Vonnegut mug waiting for it’s latte. He drank soy milk for a spell then. I cannot recall a time when some stimulating conversation did not happen as that latte was born. No matter my mood, the weather outside, the din of the avenue, for that moment it was just me n’ he in our conversation. I miss the way he’d pull me away from toiling to be so present for that brief duration. I miss being on the level with him.
I’m very proud of the bookstore that he and that family built. Hats off to them all. And pages open. Here’s to Fred!
Fred is not only the best boss I’ve ever had, he’s also one of my closest friends. I’ve learned more from him than any professor, about life and books and just odd facts that nobody else seems to know anymore. He is also a great BSer, which I am as well and this trait comes in handy dealing with smart customers who expect us to know everything. He is kind, generous (recently giving me a pile of rare and strange records…ever hear the music he makes!?), loving, and truly fair. One of my first experiences here at the shop was Fred giving a customer way over market value for some unique (but ultimately unsellable) pamphlets on aliens and ancient Egypt, the person got 800 in store credit because Fred really wanted to read them. The facts he shared after reading those works are still with me. He is a true legend, like his wife, Lanthe, who not only fully supports his endeavors but also enables him to live the great life he has. Nicole and I moved here not knowing a soul and they hired me on the spot after a brief interview because they knew I know bookselling and would be a great part of the lovely team of Pegasoids. Without them and their endless support (letting me sell mushrooms and sea glass jewelry at the shop for example), I would not be able to live in the city I now call home and will never leave because now I am part of the WS community that is the most special place in the world. I love you, Fred, I’m always here for you if you need anything, Horse Badorties forever!
This made me smile, Eric. Gary and I thought you were Fred’s son when you first started and we heard you talk to customers about books. 😊
I’m truly his son in spirit, but Emma is his carbon copy! Jimmy and I always took it as compliments when people thought we were his sons.
Yes, so true! Emma is Fred’s second printing. 📖
I first met Fred by word of mouth, from my late husband Mark who loved books and met Fred in Pegasus, and came home gushing about the wonderful and interesting person he met at the used bookstore. I went in at some point, because books! And Fred was sitting crouched on a stool, which as I am short made us about the same height. I was looking for something in ancient history, and while he didn’t have what I was looking for, he was every bit as knowledgeable as Mark had said and I think we talked for a straight hour on some minutia of Hellenistic battle strategy. Fortunately no customers came in! I always looked forward to seeing Fred at Pegasus. It made every visit a little special.
I’ve missed seeing Fred at the book exchange very much. His friendly disposition and knowledge of any book I was seeking was always a pleasant delight for me. I have been wondering where he went! I’ve missed his presence quite a lot. I am saddened by learning of his leaving us physically. I am glad the people who work there have kept his spirit going in the store. He must have enjoyed life as he was cheerful and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of books and was easy going with customers. His is missed!