About Fred Tucker

Leader, Inventor, Investor, Mentor, Friend

Fred Tucker came from humble beginnings, enduring difficult times when even a pair of shoes was hard to come by. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Beginning his career at General Motors, he received patents for innovative technologies, including the Corvette headlamp mechanism and a variable-speed windshield wiper system.

Fred then held several top-level positions at Motorola, including President of the Automotive Division. However, his biggest and final challenge at the firm, capping his 40-year career there, was leading the turnaround of the Semiconductor Group.

The Motorola Semiconductor Group had been going through a challenging period. Chris Galvin, the CEO of Motorola, who had previously collaborated with Fred, called and strongly urged him to board the next plane and take over the division in Chicago. Fred caught the next flight.

Upon arrival, Fred received a call from Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple. Jobs expressed his strong displeasure with Motorola. It was likely a make-or-break moment for Apple, so Fred needed to quickly decide whether to respond to Jobs in kind or take a more conciliatory approach. Fred chose a fair but tough approach, which resulted in Jobs apologizing and laying the groundwork for a successful relationship. Fred was often very direct, concentrating on the task at hand.

Rud Istvan, an officer at Motorola who managed venture capital investments, introduced Fred to VCapital Founder and CEO Len Batterson.  Fred and Mary Tucker were very early supporters and direct investors in VCapital investments, specifically in BVC/VCapital and Intensity. Fred became an Advisory Director at VCapital, guiding the firm's operations and evaluating direct investments. He also mentored VCapital Partner Ryan Kole when he was a new employee. Please read Ryan's words about Fred's impact at the end of this article.

Fred was also deeply committed to giving back to his community. He actively participated in the Junior Achievement Program, contributed to developing the Rochester Institute of Technology’s microelectronics school, and served seven years on the Intelligent Transportation Society of America in Washington, D.C.

In retirement, Fred enjoyed a fulfilling life surrounded by family and friends. He shared his passions for boating, traveling, bone-fishing, and golfing with others. His favorite getaway was his Rocky Point beach house, where he and his loved ones would walk along the beach, sip margaritas, gather around the fire pit, laugh, and admire the stunning sunsets.

Fred and his loved ones would walk along the beach, sip margaritas, gather around the fire pit, laugh, and admire the stunning sunsets.

Fred Tucker passed away peacefully at his home last month. As the youngest of four siblings, his childhood instilled a spirit of perseverance, discipline, and a strong work ethic—qualities that guided him throughout his life. Fred’s legacy is hard work, generosity, and deep affection for his family and friends. His warmth, humor, and down-to-earth nature endeared him to everyone who knew him.

Fred is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Mary Tucker; children, Mike Tucker and Lisa Booze, and their mother, Sue Tucker; and grandchildren, Rachael Kraft, Preston Tucker, Bryce Booze, and Grace Booze. Read the full obituary here.

Everyone at VCapital will greatly miss Fred’s friendship, guidance, counsel, and support. He was a strong manager and an entrepreneur with the vision to back his words with actions. He has left a legacy for all who knew and worked with him, along with numerous friendships marked by creativity and generosity. 

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Reflections from VCapital’s Ryan Kole: 

I am deeply grateful for the time I spent with Fred. He wasn’t just a mentor, but a true friend. I learned so much from him, both professionally and personally. Our conversations often revolved around evaluating potential portfolio companies, but over time, they became more than just business discussions. We talked about his family, past, passions—especially his love for aviation—and most of all, his profound devotion to his wife, Mary.

What truly stood out to me was Fred’s extraordinary intellect and curiosity. He could grasp even the most complex technologies, from quantum computing to space communications. Yet, despite his vast knowledge, he remained humble and never hesitated to admit when he didn’t have all the answers. Instead, he’d offer to connect us with others who could help, demonstrating his generosity and wisdom.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside Fred. His guidance made me better at my job, and his life lessons enriched me beyond measure. It’s impossible not to wish for more time with him, but I take comfort in knowing that his legacy lives on, not just through his family—his wife, children, and grandchildren—but also in the lasting impact he made on me and the team at VCapital.