and I might add disturbing news..

It was hard to be around Freddie and not feel his enthusiasm and fun-loving nature. Certainly it's sad and he'll be missed.  

was incredible.  While I didn't know him well, I thought he would be a rising star in the party.  And his story (that Ware tells--we'd all heard that story here too) about the business cards when Fred was young, well, you just have to smile.

I didn't know him well.  But every single Webb event I ever attended, I saw the hard work he did, the energy for Webb that just radiated, and the passion and pride in being a Democrat.  

This is a terrible loss, and sad beyond words.

PS Calling Webb's office in Roa is always a treat, even when the reason may be an issue not going our way.  Everyone there is terrific.  The difference in the conduct of the office (with respect to callers) now (contrasted to the predecessor) is almost palpable.

by predecessor, I mean the other party's tenure in the office.

I'm so sorry to hear about Freddie. I never met him but spoke to him often when coordinating volunteers and material between Charlottesville and Roanoke for the Webb campaign. He was always a pleasure to work with and was a big reason why we believed the Webb campaign was alive and well even outside of NOVA. He'll be missed.

I got to know Fred through campaigns and legislatively.  It is very shocking to me because I spoke with him a few months back and we chatted about his desire to run for local office but Senator Webb's office wanted him to concentrate on his duties in Western Virginia (which by the way, he covered the 5th, 6th, and 9th CD relatively speaking).  Just from that conversation, I was given the impression that he was thinking to the future.  He had a deep understanding of the legislative process (local, state, and federal) and was a very savvy operative.  If elected, he would have been a good public servant.  

My thoughts and prayers go out to those that are family, close friends and colleagues...  Fred, you will be missed.  

Freddie was a fine young man who accomplished amazing things in 26 years. At 21 he was campaign manager for Onzlee Ware, the first African-American to be elected to the House of Delegates from western Virginia.

During the Webb campaign, Freddie was given the impossible task - for anyone else - of being the point man in the three geographically largest congressional districts in the state - the 5th, 6th, and 9th.

He was co-ordinating volunteers, getting signs up, etc., in an area from Louisa County to Bristol, from Bath County to the North Carolina border.

A Botetourt County native, Freddie will be missed by all who knew him or ever worked with him.

at the Roanoke Times website here.  There's more than there was in yesterday's shorter version.  A very nice, but poignant, article.  Hat tip to the RT for recognizing how special this young man was and is in everyone's memories.

I feel as if I've had all the breath knocked out of me.

Fred was one of the solidest, friendliest, most positive people I've ever met in politics.  He was a terrific choice to  run Webb's southwestern Senate office.  He loved what he was doing, and he was looking forward to things he loved doing even more. It's impossible for me to believe he would take his own life.

He was a real connection to Washington for a lot of people who felt out of the loop.  He's sorely missed already, and the hole will get bigger.

I can only imagine what a blow this is to people who were much closer to him.  My deepest sympathies to family and friends.

I didn't realize he was such a "pup", he had such poise, intensity, and discipline for a guy of 26.  We need more like him, and we'll feel his loss. May his soul rest in peace and his family find closure.