Fred Sherome-Shandell Gentry

Fred Sherome-Shandell Gentry was born July 18, 1971, in Queens, New York, and grew up in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood. Those who knew him remembered a bold, free-spirited man with an unmistakable presence: a luminous smile, flair for style, and an energy that drew people in. From a young age Fred—also called "Inf" by friends and family—showed imagination and drive. In his late teens he supported himself performing energetic dance routines in Times Square, and later carried that same entrepreneurial, self-made mentality into adulthood.

Family was central to Fred’s life. He is described in memorial notices as a loving son and father for whom his children were the greatest joy. He cared deeply for his mother and grandmothers, and those close to him remember his generosity and protectiveness. The funeral-home notice lists close survivors, and notes how Fred relished travel, good seafood, and the simple pleasures of life. He was also described as a romantic and a man with many creative ideas—a leader and someone who inspired others.

Fred’s life was marked by resilience and determination. Friends and family recalled his ambition, keen intelligence, and the ways he met challenges with resourcefulness. He often invested in others through his warmth and willingness to help; at the same time he kept his ambitions and business ideas close, pursuing opportunities in his own way.

On May 19, 2020, Fred was shot in Schenectady and later died from his injuries. The loss was felt deeply by his family and those who knew him—people who remember his generosity, his distinctive style, and the energy he brought to a room. Local law enforcement issued a homicide notice and local reporting covered the shooting; the publicly available records show the community’s appeal for information in the aftermath.

While public records and news accounts document the circumstances of his death, the fuller picture of Fred’s life is found in the memories of family, friends, and neighbors: a man who loved his children, who carried the optimism of a self-made spirit, and who left behind people who cherished his humor, protectiveness, and bright presence. In remembering Fred Sherome-Shandell Gentry, those qualities remain the enduring part of his story.