Fred Reichel was 32 years old. He had a three-month-old son. He loved the Phillies, knew sports stats most people forget within a day, and was learning to cook for his family. On March 20, 2026, he passed away after fighting Myxoid Round Cell Liposarcoma for two years and seven months.
That is not a long time to fight something that rare and that aggressive. But the people who knew Fred say the way he lived in that time, and in all the years before it, says everything about who he was.
Who Was Fred Reichel?
Alfred Michael Reichel, known to everyone around him as Fred or Freddie, was born to Alfred and Eleanor Reichel. He grew up in the Abington area of Pennsylvania and graduated from Abington Senior High School in 2011. While working full time, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the Fox School of Business at Temple University. That combination of drive and practicality defined him.
He was a Philadelphia sports fan in the truest sense. The Phillies held a special place, but he followed it all, including golf, UFC, and WWE. What set him apart was his memory. He could pull out a stat from a game years back, in full detail, and use it to start a conversation or make someone laugh. People who met him once remembered that about him.
Fred also loved food. He was always curious about new restaurants in Philadelphia and took that same curiosity into his own kitchen, learning to cook for the people he cared about.
What Is Myxoid Round Cell Liposarcoma?
Myxoid Round Cell Liposarcoma is a rare form of soft tissue sarcoma. It originates in fat cells and is most often found in the limbs, though it can spread to other areas of the body. It accounts for roughly 30 to 35 percent of all liposarcoma cases, making it one of the more common subtypes within an already uncommon cancer group. Still, that does not make it easy to treat.
According to the American Cancer Society, soft tissue sarcomas like liposarcoma are diagnosed in fewer than 13,000 people in the United States each year. When this specific subtype appears in someone in their late twenties or early thirties, it tends to move fast. Fred fought it for nearly three years. That fight was real.
For those who want to understand this cancer better or support ongoing research, the Sarcoma Foundation of America is one of the most active organizations funding targeted research into rare sarcomas like this one.
How His Friends Remembered Fred
Jordan Rights, Fred’s closest friend, shared the news publicly on Facebook shortly after his passing. He wrote that Freddie had a sharp sense of humor, a genuine passion for sports, and an unexpectedly good singing voice. He called him a great husband, a great father, and one of the best people he had ever known. He also shared links to a scholarship fund for Fred’s three-month-old son, AJ, and asked those who knew Fred to share his obituary widely so anyone who wanted to pay their respects could do so.
John J. Lewis, an organist at The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, shared his own memory. He and Fred had met in college during a general education course. John said it was a gift to sit next to someone who knew nothing about his musical background and just treated him like a regular classmate. They worked together on a group project about the psychology of being a devoted fan. John remembered Fred knocking over his color-sorted Starburst stacks on purpose. He did not know, during all that time, that Fred was already dealing with something so serious. His tribute ended with a wish that Fred find stacks of Starbursts to knock over wherever he is now.
Others from their shared circles, including Christine Coyne and Denise Lingsch-Corrigan, offered their condolences to John and to Fred’s family in the comments. The responses kept coming from people across different parts of Fred’s life, which reflects how wide his reach was despite being only 32.
Visitation and Funeral Details
Visitation for Fred Reichel was held on Friday, March 27, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Freed Givnish Funeral Home, located at 124 N Easton Rd, Glenside, PA 19038.
A second visitation took place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by the Funeral Service from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. John’s Anglican Church, 1150 Bristol Rd, Southampton, PA 18966.
Those who were unable to attend in person but wish to honor his memory can consider contributing to AJ’s scholarship fund or donating to sarcoma research through the links shared in his official obituary.
A Life That Left a Mark
Fred Reichel was the kind of person who made the room better. Not because he tried hard at it, but because that was just how he was. He remembered things people forget. He showed up. He made people laugh. He became a husband and a father in the same stretch of life he was fighting a disease most people have never heard of.
Thirty two years is not enough. But the people he left behind, including his son AJ, his wife, his parents, and every friend who is still posting about him, will carry what he gave them forward.
Rest easy, Freddie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Alfred Fred Reichel?
Alfred Michael Reichel, known as Fred or Freddie, was a 32-year-old man from the Abington area of Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of Abington Senior High School and earned his marketing degree from Temple University’s Fox School of Business. He was a devoted Philadelphia sports fan, a husband, and a father to a three-month-old son named AJ at the time of his death.
What did Fred Reichel die from?
Fred Reichel passed away from Myxoid Round Cell Liposarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of soft tissue sarcoma. He fought the disease for two years and seven months before passing away on March 20, 2026.
What is Myxoid Round Cell Liposarcoma?
Myxoid Round Cell Liposarcoma is a subtype of liposarcoma, which is a cancer that develops in fat cells. It is one of the more common forms of liposarcoma but is still considered a rare cancer overall. It typically appears in the limbs and can be difficult to treat, especially when diagnosed at an advanced stage or in younger patients.
Where was Fred Reichel’s funeral held?
Visitation was held at Freed Givnish Funeral Home in Glenside, PA on March 27, 2026. His funeral service took place on March 28, 2026, at St. John’s Anglican Church in Southampton, PA.
How can people support Fred Reichel’s family?
Friends and community members were encouraged to donate to a scholarship fund set up for his son AJ, or to contribute to cancer research organizations focused on rare sarcomas. The links were shared through his official obituary. The Sarcoma Foundation of America accepts donations that go directly toward research on cancers like the one Fred battled.
Did Fred Reichel have any children?
Yes. Fred’s son AJ was just three months old at the time of his father’s passing. A scholarship fund was created in AJ’s name to support his future.
What high school did Fred Reichel attend?
Fred attended and graduated from Abington Senior High School in 2011, located in Abington, Pennsylvania.
What university did Fred Reichel graduate from?
He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the Fox School of Business at Temple University, which he completed while working full time. You may also be interested in: Jerry MacDonald UPEI Basketball Player Dies at 71 – Family and Community Pay Tribute
