Robert “Bob” Homer Fritz was born June 18, 1928 in Dripping Springs, Texas (near Austin) to Robert Henry Fritz and Ruby Stillman Fritz and died May 17, 2018 at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. He is buried at Fitzhugh Cemetery in Dripping Springs. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Theresa Maruffi Fritz; his children, Theresa Fritz Camoriano (Guillermo) and Robert Henry Fritz (Barbara); his grandchildren, Andrea Camoriano, Nina Camoriano Gladson (David), and Erika Fritz; and by great granddaughter Cora Gladson.
Robert moved with his parents and sister to Clarkwood, Texas when he was seven years old. He graduated from Robstown High School, joined the Merchant Marines, and later joined the U.S. Navy and served as a submarine sailor. He met his future wife while stationed in New London, Connecticut. They married October 8, 1949 at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in South Glastonbury, Connecticut. He graduated the University of Texas with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in January of 1954.
He worked in many cutting edge technologies during his career, especially in the area of heat transfer. He worked for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft for 18 years, first developing a nuclear jet engine, and then as their representative at NASA, supporting their fuel cells which produced electricity and water for the Apollo missions. Among later jobs, he helped design a liquefied natural gas plant in Oran, Algeria, and designed fire protection systems for chemical plants.
He was the president of the sportsmen’s club in Glastonbury, Connecticut, and trained his own hunting dogs. He established and coached a swim team in Alvin, Texas for the benefit of his own children and many others. After retirement, he and Theresa continued living in Alvin, Texas while spending summers in South Glastonbury, Connecticut.
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