[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1115-E1116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHN R. FRITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2016

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John 
R. Fritz, 48, who passed away on June 27, 2016. John was born on March 
20, 1968 in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of Richard and Diane (Griffith) 
Fritz.
   John graduated from the Austintown Fitch School, where he was 
consistently involved in the school's instrumental music program, in 
1986. He went on to join the Austintown Fire Department for 26 years. 
He worked as a MCCTC fire instructor for many years and helped found 
the Austintown Honor Guard. John was also employed by the Western 
Reserve Mechanical in Niles for almost 20 years.
   Throughout his life, John prioritized spending time with his family 
and serving others. He enjoyed archery, shooting, and scuba diving. He 
held a black belt in karate, collected unusual knives, enjoyed line 
dancing, appreciated motorcycles, and was a talented tinkerer. 
Passionate about raising money to fight Spina Bifida, John twice walked 
60 miles from Austintown Fire Station No. 1 to Cleveland Clinic to help 
raise $5,700 in donations. He was a founding member of the Mahoning 
Valley Fools (Fraternal Order of Leatherhead).
   John will be deeply missed by his family. He leaves behind his wife, 
Karen (Bickle) Fritz,

[[Page E1116]]

whom he married on September 11, 1999, and his children, Ryley, Bailey, 
Halley, Kassidey and Owen. He leaves also his parents, Richard and 
Diane; his sister, Jill (Kenneth) Ferrone; father-in-law, Gordon 
Bickle; brothers-in-law, Greg and Kevin Bickle; niece, Madison; nephew, 
Miles Ferrone; and his family of firefighters. He also leaves his dogs, 
Toby, LuLu, Sophie Mae, and Kooper.
   Charitable even through his death, John was a Lifebanc donor. He 
will be sadly missed by the community to which he gave so much.

                          ____________________