A. Bruce Frederick, Ph.D., passed away on Jan. 25 in Wilmington, Del., finally succumbing to pancreatic cancer. He was 80.

Born in Norristown, Pa., Frederick was an astute historian of American gymnastics, and had dedicated much of his retirement to the "Roots of American Gymnastics" project (gymroots.com). He published the third and final edition of "Roots" in 2006, and the edition included more than 1,600 entries.

Frederick earned his Ph.D. in physical education from the University of Minnesota. He went on to teach at the University of Wisconson-Superior, where he started the gymnastics program, and at SUNY-Brockport.

Frederick also was the Education Editor for International Gymnast magazine, for which he compiled a periodical Technical Supplement. His work has appeared in the Encyclopedia Britannica, and he wrote nine books and illustrated others. Later in his career, he worked in Saudi Arabia for three years, training coaches.

Frederick was elected to the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1990, and he was curator for the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame during its early years in Oceanside, Calif. (The IGHOF is now in Oklahoma City.)

Frederick is survived by his wife, Norma; sons Carl, Neil and Adam; and daughter, Paula.