Obituary for Doug Olaf Fritz
Doug (Detlef) Fritz
April 7, 1942-May 18, 2023
It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Doug. Loving husband to Faye, adoring father to Jackie & Nicole, extraordinary Opi to Henry, father-like figure & friend to sons-in-law Murray & Joe. He will also miss his furry friends Franklin & Skye, & also little Laki, whom he sadly never got to meet.
Doug was an exceptional human being, a sentiment we’ve heard again & again as news about this unspeakable tragedy has spread. He was boundless in his love for his family & friends, & the lengths he’d go to to help them in their time of need, or just to make them happy. He was tireless in his dedication to duty & perfection, both in the quotidian (tending to his garden, his many carpentry & fix-it projects, & his endless list of chores), & on a heartfelt level with those he knew both intimately & casually. He was old school in that way.
Despite these so-called old-fashioned qualities, he was also a true child at heart. He loved his only grandchild Henry wildly, & he knew how to engage him at whatever stage he was at in his development. As well, the neighbourhood kids, both where we lived as a young family & those in the community where he lived upon retirement, also adored him. Kids can spot an impostor in a heartbeat, but they knew “Doug” aka “Mr. Fritz” was the real deal. The biggest kid of them all.
For so many reasons his daughters were incredibly lucky to have him as their dad, perhaps most importantly because he modelled what they should expect in a life partner once they were grown. Both Murray & Joe exude so many of the qualities their father-in-law possessed: decency, kindness & a deep sense of honour & responsibility. There are no greater qualities to find in a human being. And, as anyone knows, the most universal need of every child is to feel safe & protected, & Doug’s every action as a parent responded to that call.
As a husband, he had no peer. He adored his wife & doted on her in every way. As with his daughters, he made her feel protected & deeply loved & would do anything for her. They had so much fun & did pretty much everything together. As Faye’s best friend Lesley said, they were “two peas in a pod”. It was a 61-year love story neither of them ever wanted to end &, now that it has, Faye’s heartbreak is beyond comprehension.
You were still so healthy & vibrant & had many good years left to live. We will miss you so deeply & are forever unmoored. Dearest Doug, Dad & Mr. Fritz, our love for you will never diminish.
There will be no service. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Doug’s memory to either the Salvation Army or the Canadian Cancer Society.
April 7, 1942-May 18, 2023
It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Doug. Loving husband to Faye, adoring father to Jackie & Nicole, extraordinary Opi to Henry, father-like figure & friend to sons-in-law Murray & Joe. He will also miss his furry friends Franklin & Skye, & also little Laki, whom he sadly never got to meet.
Doug was an exceptional human being, a sentiment we’ve heard again & again as news about this unspeakable tragedy has spread. He was boundless in his love for his family & friends, & the lengths he’d go to to help them in their time of need, or just to make them happy. He was tireless in his dedication to duty & perfection, both in the quotidian (tending to his garden, his many carpentry & fix-it projects, & his endless list of chores), & on a heartfelt level with those he knew both intimately & casually. He was old school in that way.
Despite these so-called old-fashioned qualities, he was also a true child at heart. He loved his only grandchild Henry wildly, & he knew how to engage him at whatever stage he was at in his development. As well, the neighbourhood kids, both where we lived as a young family & those in the community where he lived upon retirement, also adored him. Kids can spot an impostor in a heartbeat, but they knew “Doug” aka “Mr. Fritz” was the real deal. The biggest kid of them all.
For so many reasons his daughters were incredibly lucky to have him as their dad, perhaps most importantly because he modelled what they should expect in a life partner once they were grown. Both Murray & Joe exude so many of the qualities their father-in-law possessed: decency, kindness & a deep sense of honour & responsibility. There are no greater qualities to find in a human being. And, as anyone knows, the most universal need of every child is to feel safe & protected, & Doug’s every action as a parent responded to that call.
As a husband, he had no peer. He adored his wife & doted on her in every way. As with his daughters, he made her feel protected & deeply loved & would do anything for her. They had so much fun & did pretty much everything together. As Faye’s best friend Lesley said, they were “two peas in a pod”. It was a 61-year love story neither of them ever wanted to end &, now that it has, Faye’s heartbreak is beyond comprehension.
You were still so healthy & vibrant & had many good years left to live. We will miss you so deeply & are forever unmoored. Dearest Doug, Dad & Mr. Fritz, our love for you will never diminish.
There will be no service. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Doug’s memory to either the Salvation Army or the Canadian Cancer Society.