Born in South Philadelphia, Fred Gable earned three degrees from Temple University: a bachelor’s and master’s in pharmacy, as well as a master’s in sociology.

He began teaching at Temple in 1955 and went on to author two textbooks. Over time, he rose to become assistant dean at the School of Pharmacy.

Gable was notably forward-thinking in promoting diversity within the field of pharmacy. In the 1970s, he actively recruited students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and supported their education through federal grant funding.

In addition to his academic contributions, he founded an acting troupe at TUSP, staging Broadway productions such as Bye Bye Birdie, and played a key role in establishing and managing the School’s art collection.

The Fred Gable Endowed Cultural Fund was established in 2012 by TUSP alumni and friends of Fred Gable, PHM ’51, to honor the former assistant dean of admissions and his commitment to the arts. Gable initiated the School’s art collection by encouraging the Class of 1968 to donate its first painting in memory of a deceased classmate, laying the foundation for a lasting cultural legacy.