8033

 

8033 Brian Fritsch

 

During spring of 1969 I was investigating post-grad opportunities in the US in Nuclear Engineering which was an extension of the RMC Chem Eng program.  1966 RMC grads, Bob Mason and Tony Enright, went to the Univ of Virginia in Nuclear Eng and I rode their coattails.  UVA called it the National Science Foundation Award to please the Air Force, a one year no thesis Masters of Nuclear Engineering.  Full tuition plus $250 a month for rent when I was making $7200 a year as a Lt.

A culture shock when I arrived in June 1969 in midst of the Kent State riots; no assemblies of more than 6 people.  Met up with 3 Naval Academy grads and sports/ studies were fun.  Met a young redhead nurse (head nurse in Pediatrics known as Big Red because she didn’t take any guff from the Docs when her babies were involved) after I took out her roommate for 2 months.  By Christmas there was a choice:  get married in June or see you in 1 ½ years after flying training.  We got married on D-Day, 6 June 1970, at Oceania Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach.

Her first sight of Canada was Portage La Prairie, MB at first phase RCAF flying training.  I suffered thru first phase while she started her golf career.  I squeaked thru and on to Tutor jets at Moose Jaw, Sask.  Nine months of stress because I wasn’t very good.  On to Cold Lake, AB on T-33 jets and more stress. I did manage to graduate on 10 Dec 1971 and on to 5 weeks in Hawaii to meet up with our US Navy buddies on Nuclear Subs.

First posting was then Winnipeg on DC3s with 23 planes for 1972-1974 followed by C-130s (4 of them), 1974-1976.  Did manage to run a DC3 off the runway in Winnipeg (Stu Aebig was the Captain) and hit a runway light in MJ with a C-130 (the CO was Captain of the aircraft).  First son, Paxton, was born in 1973. And won a Golf Club Championship and the Palm Springs Open in Cold Lake.  Started an Income Tax Business and a high school Tutoring business.

On to Edmonton on C-130s, 1976-1980.  Eventually ran training and the simulator in addition to running an income tax business, motor home business and getting my real estate license.  Away for months at a time in Europe and Trenton while Carrie took care of the two boys (Brad, 1977) and the motor home business. Theme continued as I won the Namao Open and was 3^rd in the Armed Forces Championship while my bride won a Club Championship. Turned down a Test Pilot course in the US (jets are not for me); you have steaks for lunch on C-130s) and took a C-130 exchange posting at Pope AFB in Fayetteville, NC to replace Cajo and Mary Brando and our third son, Stephen, was born.  Was the first pilot to extend an extra year there (1980-1983), got promoted, and Carrie’s folks were in Norfolk, a 4 hour drive.  And the Mecca, Pinehurst Championship course, was a half hour away.  And a small Amway and Amsoil business.

Transferred to Ottawa HQ in Air Requirements but managed to live on a golf course in Manotick (4000 people), half hour from downtown HQ.  20/40 pension plan beckoned in 1986 (22 years in with good times) and we were hired by Sperry Marine and Aerospace in Rockland as Military Marketing Manager.  

 Income Tax Business intact.  That lasted 6 years to 1992 before downsizing hit.  Let go on 31 July 1992 and next day Sperry Marine out of Charlottesville, Va (coincidence, back to UVA days) called and Fritsch & Associates (Associate is Carrie) was born.  They paid me fulltime(managed South American civilian/military agents) for four years and then part time (they paid me 5 days a month) until March 31, 2020 (27 years before Covid hit).  In the meantime I went into the finance business in 1996 (mutual fund, insurance and continued the income tax business).  12 years later in 2008 (sold my business a week before the market’s big correction and retired as a 61 year old).   Golf continued, 4-5 handicap, Carrie, 10-11 handicap.  She was runner-up to the Club Champion 6 times in the 1990s and won 8 other trophies thru her senior years (quit competition when she was 75).  I had a good run and was runner-up 6 times in the 1990s and early 2000s.  Played my best golf when I was 67 as a 2 handicap in 2014 and led the Club Championship by 4 shots going into last round but couldn’t close the deal in the pouring rain.

Built a new house on Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Manotick in 1989, our present home.  Formerly Grand Knight in the local Knights of Columbus, Army Cadet liaison with the local Kiwanis, and volunteer at two Extended Care facilities.  Enjoying a yearly reunion with 16 classmates in various places for a week of golf and sharing memories of days gone by.  Still playing hockey and just recently beat Prostate Cancer.

During these times 2 of our boys continued their golf careers.  Brad (47) took an academic scholarship to Campbell University in NC, made the golf team and started on the Canadian Tour in 2001.  Persevering,  he made the Korn Ferry Tour equivalent during 2007-2009, 2011, 2012 and finally the PGA Tour for three years, 2013,2014 and 2017.  Got married to Megan in 2007 and started a family.  Now part owner in Red Rooster Golf company and managing his son’s (Jesse (11)) hockey career and daughter’s, Hannah (15) volleyball career near Raleigh, NC .

Steven (42) received a golf scholarship at Univ of Tennessee at Chattanooga and tried the Canadian Tour qualifying twice before his fiancée, Chrissy, put her foot down and told him to get a real job.  Now flipping houses with Chrissy designing and staging successfully since 2016, just finishing their 16^th house.  Daughter Zoey (11) has a blossoming hockey career.

Oldest son, Paxton (51), a three time Ironman participant together with his wife, Jill, (similar times) have 4 kids: Jaymeson(16), Jackson(15), Addison(9) and Pearson(8).  After being a policeman for 8 years in Edmonton, they started from scratch and built a very successful World Financial Group business in Ottawa with 450 people working for him in various Ontario cities .

Blessed with good health, a loving, supportive and very patient wife, 3 great sons and wonderful daughters-in-law and 7 grandkids.  What more could you ask for??????