Friedrich Dankward Groezinger

Friedrich Dankward Groezinger, 91, of Cary, North Carolina, passed away on July 26, 2026. Born January 29, 1935, in Pforzheim, Germany, Friedrich (aka Fritz) was the son of the late Robert Emil Groezinger and Friederika Winkler Groezinger. He moved to New York, to live, in 1957. He resided in Glendale and Middle Village, before moving to North Carolina in 1977.

Throughout his life, Friedrich met each season with steady resilience and a quiet determination that could be counted on in both ordinary days and demanding ones. His strong work ethic was evident in the care he brought to his vocation, and in the way he carried responsibility.

Friedrich worked in a very specialized field of surgical instrument equipment repair, a role that called for discipline, precision, and persistence—qualities he demonstrated through years of dedicated effort. He started his career in Queens, New York in around 1959, working at a small company called Weck, who made and repaired custom surgical instruments. When the company decided to move to the Research Triangle in 1977, Friedrich made the move with them, and bought his home in Cary, in 1978. He loved his new town and made a very happy life for himself and his wife, there.

Friedrich was also a very knowledgeable gardener, who grew a prolific number of organic butternut squash every year. He grew tomatoes too, but the butternut squash that he grew was really his specialty. He happily shared it with his neighbors, in his beloved community, and with relatives in NYC. If they came to visit in September or October, they left with the car filled with squash!

Friedrich was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette Groezinger, his sister Christa Starck, and brothers Reinhard, Werner, and Robert Groezinger. He is survived by his sister, Irma Giordano; nephews, Robert Groezinger, Uwe Groezinger, and Frank Groezinger; and nieces, Lisa Starck Donovan, and Linda Starck McLean.

His ashes will be interred with his late wife, in Westchester, NY. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.