Longtime local doctor will be 2020’s ‘Mr. San Diego’

A long time San Diego pediatrician with a rich history of community involvement will be named this year ’s “Mr. San Diego.”

Dr. Frederick Fr ye, a resident of Point Loma, learned Friday that a selection committee made up of 26 past presidents of the San Diego Rotary Club is honoring him for his leadership in numerous civic groups and activities that have helped shape San Diego.

The title has been awarded annually to a deserving San Diego man, woman or couple for the past 68 years, with the exception of 1975. The honor was started by a varied group of civic leaders in 1952. As the founders aged, in 1975 they asked the San Diego Rotary Club to take over the process, which is open to nominations from throughout the reg ion.

Frye, 85, who spent 30 years in private practice, ser ved as president of the San Diego County Medical Society, chairman of the San Diego Zoolog ical Society, and commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club and of the San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs.

He was active on the boards of the San Diego Historical Society, the Maritime Museum and the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

This year ’s selection took an unusual turn. First, the pandemic is chang ing the recognition ceremony into a vir tual one. Second, Frye, having been a Rotary Club president, sits on the selection committee and has overseen the process for the past eight years.

When his nomination came in from businesswoman Patti Roscoe, who was named “Mrs. San Diego” in 2018, committee members had to meet without his knowledge.

“The past presidents were very sneaky,” Frye conf ided. “They invited me to a Zoom call and said, ‘We’re going to discuss Mr. San Diego.’ The conversation star ted out, ‘Well, we’ve selected Mr. San Diego — and it’s you!’

“I was so surprised. I was totally over whelmed,” said Frye. “I never, ever thought this would happen. It’s not something I sought. It is such a great honor.”