ULI Life Trustee Frederick Kober, chairman of the board of the Christopher Companies, passed away on March 17, 2018, in Los Gatos, California, following a lengthy illness. He was 80.
Kober, who joined ULI in 1970, was named a life trustee in 2005, a recognition reserved for the Institute’s most dedicated and respected members, and bestowed to only 15 members in ULI’s 82-year history. He was highly engaged in the Institute throughout his 48-year membership, serving most recently on the ULI Foundation Board of Overseers. His volunteerism included service on the ULI Foundation Executive Committee, ULI Foundation Governors Campaign Committee, ULI’s Executive Committee, Awards for Excellence Management Committee and Jury, UrbanPlan Advisory Task Force, Inclusivity Task Force, Council Coordinating Committee, and Inner-City Coordinating Committee.
Kober was very active in the District Council Network, serving on the District Council Chairs Advisory Group and as a district council adviser, as chairman of ULI Washington, and as a member of ULI Atlanta, ULI Los Angeles, and ULI North Texas. In addition, he was a longtime member of the Product Council Network, serving on the Residential Development Council, Residential Neighborhood Development Council, and Small-Scale Development Council.
“Fred was the quintessential ULI leader—thoughtful, visionary, and giving,” says ULI Americas Chairman Trish Healy. “He was absolutely committed to ULI. Anyone participating at the district council level owes him a debt of gratitude, as he was instrumental in the growth of district councils and passionate about their responsibility of delivering ULI’s mission. Fred was a respected colleague and mentor to many of us, and he will be greatly missed.”
Kober founded the Christopher Companies in 1974 as a design-conscious homebuilding firm with operations in northern Virginia and the Tidewater area of southeast Virginia. Since then, the firm has expanded to Fairfax County, Prince William County, Caroline County, Loudoun County, and Albemarle County in Virginia and Sussex County in Delaware. Its portfolio includes single-family homes, townhouses, residential condominiums, apartments, and mixed-use properties.
Kober is survived by his wife, Sydene, of 38 years; his sister, Suzanne Norling (Fred); his children Christopher (Kelli), Derek (Lucie), Kurt Naegele, and Kirsten Flaherty (Tom); and several grandchildren.