Frederick Abraham Reiff was born on January 19, 1922 in Standerton, Transvaal, Union of South Africa to David Mendel & Esther Reiff, both of Russian descent.
In 1939, at the age of seventeen, the Reiff family moved from Wakkerstroom, Transvaal to Plumtree, Southern Rhodesia where he attended Plumtree High School. After matriculating, he entered a legal practice to do his articles but unfortunately this was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War. He served for two years in the Rhodesian Forces (under Britain) as an Instructor in Cadet Corps. and the Rhodesian African Rifles and was discharged following demobilisation on 13 March 1946 at Salisbury.
On 1 July 1947, Fred married Rena Abrahamson, daughter of Morris Abrahamson and had two sons and a daughter, David, Leora and Hylton.
Fred joined his brother-in-law, Abe Abrahamson in business as Joint Managing Director of a clothing company, Matabeleland Clothing Company (MATCO) as well as several Investment and Property Holdings.
Fred's birth name was actually Abraham Fred Reiff (named after his maternal grandmother, Frieda and his paternal grandfather, Abraham) but in 1956 he formally altered it to Frederick Abraham Reiff, although to family, friends and the Bulawayo community he remained simply Fred or Freddy.
Besides being Managing Director of Matabeleland Clothing Co. (Pvt.) Ltd. he also served as Vice-Chairman of the Matabeleland Clothing Manufacturers' Association and was involved with the National Co-ordinating Council of the Clothing Industry.
A keen tennis player, he joined the Executive Board of the Parkview Tennis Club in 1948. As Chairman from 1954 to 1956, he played an important role in acquiring the lease for land that allowed the club to develop further. When he later chaired the Parkview Sports Club in 1961–62, its facilities expanded to include swimming, bowling and squash. He also served on the Matabeleland Lawn Tennis Board.
Fred's contribution to Bulawayo's Jewish community was equally significant. He served as Chairman of the Bulawayo Jewish Guild, Jewish Education, Bulawayo Hebrew Congregation and the Chevra Kadisha and was an active leader rather than merely an honorary member.
At various times he served as chairman, vice-chairman, honorary vice-president, honorary secretary or trustee:
- Chairman of Parkview Tennis Club;
- associated with the Hebrew English Nursery School and Carmel PTA;
- Commitee member of Kumalo School;
- Chairman or President of Weizmann;
- Vice-Chairman of MDA;
- a member of the Matabeleland Lawn Tennis Board;
- Vice-Chairman of the Matabeleland Clothing Manufacturers' Association;
- involved with the National Co-ordinating Council of the Clothing Industry;
- Honorary Secretary of the Congregation; and
- a trustee of the Chevra Kadisha.
After he retired they decided to leave Zimbabwe to Toronto, Canada to be with their family in February 2007. Freddy died in Toronto, Canada on April 15, 2013 (5th Iyar) aged 91 years.
His death closed a life spanning more than nine decades and two continents—from his birth in Standerton in 1922, through his youth in Southern Rhodesia, wartime military service, marriage and family life, a successful career in the clothing industry, and decades of involvement in the sporting and Jewish institutions of Bulawayo.
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