Condolence: Kim,

I am so sorry to have just learned about Fritz passing. As a transfer from WVU he was my first roommate at Delaware and I was his last roommate there. We formed an instant bond and he helped me with the transition into UD life. I remember the night he met you at the Down Under, he was so excited and I teased him constantly about you. He was kind and generous, but above all a good friend. Although we hadn't talked in several years, I always knew that with Fritz that we would pick up where we left off. I wish you and the girls my deepest sympathies.

Sincerely,

Danny "Tags" Taglienti

Condolence: Kim,
My deepest condolences to you and the girls on the passing of Fritz. I was so saddened to hear of this news. Stay strong for each other.
Fern Olesky

Condolence: Dear Kim,Devon, Morgan and Shane
Thank you for a lifetime of wonderful memories with Fritz.
All my Love
Uncle Ted

Condolence: Kim,
I am saddened to hear of your loss. Please know that everyone is
keeping you in thoughts and prayers.

Condolence: Kim, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. Know that you and your family are in my thoughts.

Condolence: There are no words to express how very sorry I am for your loss. Sending you love and prayers. May the Lord, our God, ease your pain.

Condolence: Fritz and I became friends in about the 5th grade. We did a lot of exploring of life in those subsequent years - reminiscent of the TV show about that era, “The Wonder Years.” Countless hours on the phone; talking about girls and sports. Fritz was a natural athlete and soon was prominent in neighbourhood football and hockey - just about every endeavour he engaged in, he did it well.

As we entered high school we worked a nighttime janitorial job together at an office building in Radnor. Fritz was always embrued with a keen sense of humour and so even doing something as mind-numbing as taking out the trash and vacuuming the offices was fun with him. Summers were spent at the Lander home in the pool.

Our paths diverged a bit when I went to boarding school, albeit in the same town and two years later my family moved to Connecticut. Our get-togethers were less frequent then but we always picked up our relationship as though no time had passed. After graduation our paths diverged further when I joined the Marine Corps for three years and then crossed again in 1981 the year I got out of the service. On my way home, one of my first stops was at the Lander home in Wayne and once again we picked up where we left off.

The following summer Fritz and I worked as landscapers together and while the work wasn’t particularly engaging, the days were filled with laughter and horsing around at the job sites (while still getting the job done because in addition to being utterly professional Fritz was absolutely reliable - the perfect employee and the ideal boss - traits that he no doubt carried with him through life.)

He made a couple of visits to Connecticut when I was at CT College - and then something happened that would change the course of his life forever in a most meaningful manner. He met Kim. A relationship that was always meant to be. Together they forged a life and had two beautiful girls who are now grown women. A former boss once told me that the mark of success in one’s life was not what he/she accomplished in the work place; rather, it was measured in how your children turned out. In this respect, Fritz was a phenomenal success.

Our lives diverged significantly from the mid-1980s. My professional life took me out of the continental United States for most of the past 30 years. We probably only saw each other less than a dozen times since then. But as throughout the years, each reunion felt as though no time had passed with only greying hair and less tolerance for drinks betraying the time and distance passed.

The last time I saw Fritz was around the winter of 2014. He had business that brought him down into my neck of Virginia and he was able to visit the house one evening. We caught up on old times, life and family events - it was a great evening. As always, although our lives had diverged greatly the bond of our original friendship was there. It was always there.

Goodbye my brother. We had a lot of “firsts” together as we traversed life - especially in those early “wonder” years. You were a man of integrity, a model Dad, husband, neighbour and member of society. You left too early but I'm glad your transition was a peaceful one. You touched all of us in ways you will never know. Thank you.

Condolence: Kim, Morgan, Devon and family,
Words cannot express the sadness I feel hearing of the loss of Fritz. He will always be remembered as a kind man who was always there for all of his girls. Sending sincere condolences and prayers. May the memories bring you all peace. With love....xo