Video Club Mourns Passing of Fred Harshbarger

At the start of the Covid pandemic, Video Club member Fred Harshbarger stepped up to keep our Video One Productions team together, hosting twice-monthly Zoom meetings as the group’s Facilitator. On May 12, while a regular VidOne meeting was in progress – hosted at Fred’s request by Ward Cushman – Fred briefly and unexpectedly joined in from his hospital bed. Knowing his time was short, he came to wish his friends goodbye.

Video Club Mourns Passing of Fred Harshbarger

At the start of the Covid pandemic, Video Club member Fred Harshbarger stepped up to keep our Video One Productions team together, hosting twice-monthly Zoom meetings as the group’s Facilitator. On May 12, while a regular VidOne meeting was in progress – hosted at Fred’s request by Ward Cushman – Fred briefly and unexpectedly joined in from his hospital bed. Knowing his time was short, he came to wish his friends goodbye.

On May 15, Fred died of natural causes at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. His close friend Sabina Shabdeen said that, according to his wishes, “Fred’s ashes will be scattered at the beach.” She said no memorial event is planned.

Fred, who lived in Costa Mesa, became a non-resident member of the Video Club in 2018 and immediately began sharing his extensive knowledge of videography with other members. Often using his own equipment, he participated in many shoots, including the club’s Short Dramatic Film series, for which he produced two “Making of…” videos. He also produced two half-hour television series’ aired monthly on Village Television – “Jazzing Around,” drawn from his original footage of West Coast jazz performances, and “Video Club Spotlight,” featuring short videos by club members. Originally from Indiana, Fred,was born in 1930 and lived most of his adult life in California.

“Fred had a happy personality and enjoyed life to the fullest,” Sabina recalled. “Travel was one of his many passions, and he went all over the world. Dancing was another of his loves, and he did tap dancing into his 80s.” Divorced, Fred had no children.

Club President Steve Carman wrote of Fred:
“I will miss the leadership and friendship of Fred Harshbarger as a Video Club Board member as Facilitator of the Video One Productions team. His outstanding leadership and personal contributions to the Video Club will also be missed by the Video One team, a group of the most-experienced videographers who volunteer to produce many videos for the Video Club and for residents of Laguna Woods Village. I always enjoy watching Fred’s “Jazzing Around” program on Village Television Friday and Sunday evenings which Fred always emcees. Fred was a tireless champion of the Video Club and he will be greatly missed. 

“We are fortunate to have Ward Cushman step up as the new Facilitator of Video One Productions.”

Vice President Tom Nash wrote of Fred:
“The video club lost a great friend recently.  Fred Harshbarbar was an aeronautical engineer by trade, but by avocation he was a most enthusiastic film maker. His films include African safaris, travel by small boat to the Galapagos islands, horse riding in the far North.

“Notably he had recorded quite a number of Jazz groups which he edited together into a series called “Jazzing Around,” which is regularly broadcast on Village Television.

“Fred became the de facto leader of the production arm of the club, always encouraging us onward. His passing is a very felt loss to many of us in the club both for the future of the club and as a personal friend.”