Dr. William T. Fritz

Fritz, Dr. William T., aged 62 of Richland Township, passed peacefully with his family by his side on March 15, 2023, in Durham, North Carolina. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 35 years Mary E. (Pillage) Fritz, his parents Thomas V. and Barbara L. (Jacob) Fritz, his parents-in-law Ralph N. and Patricia L. (O’Connor) Pillage, and brother-in-law Thomas J. Pillage. He is survived by his four children and their families: Kristine Fritz of Raleigh, NC; Dr. Andrea Fritz and Devin McDermott of Durham, NC; Mark Fritz and Selena Hernandez Fritz of Raleigh, NC; and Kaitlin Fritz and Andrew Barton of Cambridge, UK. In addition to being a loving father, he was a proud Oompa to his grandchildren Brielle, Elise, and Ian McDermott. He will also be missed by his fiancée Vivian Boyer of Scottdale, PA; his sister Juliann Fritz Brigham and her husband Chris Brigham of Park City, UT; and his siblings-in-law Billy Pileggi, Lynda Pillage, and Paul Moran-Pillage of Pittsburgh, PA. William was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on August 14, 1960. Even as a child, he was a social butterfly and had a gift for cultivating life-long and meaningful relationships. In fact, he started courting Mary, his soulmate, in junior high. Together, they weathered many storms and created a beautiful life. With Mary by his side, William pursued his dream of becoming a doctor. The two graduated from Churchill Area High School, after which William attended Washington & Jefferson College. He majored in Biology and Economics, was a proud member of ZBT Fraternity, and graduated in 1982. Following graduation, William, Mary, and little Kristine moved to Philadelphia, where William studied medicine at Hahnemann University from 1982 through 1986. Combining his interest in patient care, knack for physiology, and enjoyment of procedures, he pursued anesthesiology through residency at Hahnemann University. In the more than three decades that followed, William served patients across the country, especially in Johnstown, PA, where he at one point was Director of Anesthesiology at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. As a physician, he took great pride in the care of every patient, the camaraderie of his colleagues, and the scholarship of his work. Beyond his professional work, William found immense fulfillment mentoring local college students in Conemaugh’s Mentoring in Medicine Program. From formal lectures, visits to universities, and chats in the backyard, he shared his insight with hundreds of future doctors and medical professionals. But anyone who stopped by the house or spoke to him realized that his mentoring and desire to help knew no bounds. William was also a loving and dedicated family man who always supported his children and grandchildren, from cheering the loudest at graduations and dancing around at preschool celebrations to being a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold in the hard moments. He lived life to the fullest, which included having adventures across the US and abroad, learning a new language in his last years of life, keeping park dates with his grandkids, and never saying no to a good show or concert. With any spare time he had though, he also sought opportunities to serve others and the community he loved. He was a faithful member of St. Benedict Catholic Church, an advocate for his children’s alma maters St. Benedict’s Catholic School (now Divine Mercy) and Bishop McCort High School, and a supporter of various universities in Western Pennsylvania. William left a trail of kindness wherever he went, and he will greatly be missed. But his legacy—professionally and personally—will live on in the hearts of all those he touched. Viewings will be held at Meek & Dalla Valle Funeral Home, 1312 Graham Ave. Windber, PA 15963, on Wednesday, March 22, from 4-8 p.m. where rosary will be recited in the evening, and Thursday, March 23, from Noon-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., where vigil service will be held. The funeral mass will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 24, at St. Benedict’s Church in Geistown, PA, with Fr. David Peles. Committal with Fr. Michael Wolfe, will be private for family at Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in William’s memory to any of the educational scholarship funds close to his heart: The Dr. William Fritz Family Fund at Bishop McCort High School; The Mary E. and William T. Fritz Memorial Fund at St. Vincent College; The Mr. Thomas V. and Dr. William T.  Fritz Memorial Prize at Washington and Jefferson College; The Zeno and Thomas Fritz Endowment Fund at Duquesne University; or The Sandzimier Endowed Memorial Scholarship Internship Fund at Seton Hill. To share memories or donate online, please visit https://everloved.com/life-of/william-t-fritz/

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