Saturday, May 10, 2025
Fritz was my friend. I could stop right there, because those who knew Fritz will know what that means to have been Fritz's friend. Honestly, it meant the world to me to have been his friend.
We knew each other in high school. Fritz was Biloxi High's football trainer for all 3 years of high school, and I was football manager those 3 years.
Every interaction with Fritz, be it a brief passing in the hall on the way to class or an extended trip like he and I and a few others took driving to Jacksonville and back for Biloxi High's appearance at the Gator Bowl for a high school postseason game, was uplifted by Fritz's entirely friendly and good-humored positivity.
His sincerity and love for life was always openly and eagerly shared with you. You always knew whete you stand with Fritz, because his honesty was of the kindest variety, nonjudgmental and fair.
I saw him in Baton Rouge a few years after high school graduation when Fritz was a trainer for the Ole Miss Rebels and they were playing the LSU Tigers. I visited with him at his team's motel befire the game, and it was if we had just seen each other only days before.
.There was the good friend I knew with a big smile and a genuinely hearty hello, positive and uplifting as always.
And when we talked long distance now and then, calls separated by years, my old friend still.hsd that deep fondness in his voice that you could feel connected directly to his heart.
Fritz was a great good friend and a great human being. But you all knew that already. It does my heart good to remind myself and you all about it. And Donna, I am so sorry for your loss but so very glad for the life you two had together, each others' great loves of your lives and committed adoring helpmates. God bless ypu, Donna.
Larry Piltz, still in Austin
