Who is Fred Gaitan

Fred and his wife, Patricia, recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. They are blessed with three children, five grandchildren, and one on the way, all living nearby. Family has always been at the heart of Fred’s life, and when he and Patricia decided to downsize, they were drawn to Snohomish for its small-town charm and strong sense of community. Having spent years bringing their children to games at Stocker Fields and walking the Centennial Trail, they knew this was where they wanted to call home. Through a focused search, they found an empty lot on Lincoln Avenue, allowing them to not only move to Snohomish but also fulfill their dream of designing and building their own home. Acting as the designer and general contractor, Fred navigated city permits, hired subcontractors, managed schedules, and completed much of the interior finish work himself—an experience that gave him firsthand insight into working with city processes.

Fred’s professional background includes 35 years in retail, where he worked his way up from the store level to Vicepresident of Sales and Support. He was responsible for overseeing a division that spanned 12 regions across the U.S. and Canada, managing 120 stores with over $150 million in sales. After retiring from Retail, he continued serving the community by running highly successful Giving campaigns at United Way of Snohomish County. These experiences strengthened his leadership, planning, and problem-solving skills—qualities he now seeks to bring to the Snohomish City Council.

An avid walker, Fred embarked on the Camino de Santiago in Spain at age 70, walking 540 miles over 39 days. What began as a journey of intellectual introspection became a deeply spiritual experience, reinforcing his sense of purpose and service to the community. Today, he continues walking Snohomish three to four times a week, covering five to eight miles each time. And on these walks, he sees the changes happening in town.