Arthur "Jay" FRITZ Jr.

FRITZ, Jr., Arthur "Jay" On December 30, 2014, Arthur Joseph Fritz, Jr. passed away peacefully at home with his wife of 46 years, Barbara, at his side. Jay, as he was known to family and friends, was born in 1940 to Arthur Joseph and Emily Sue Fritz, the oldest of three children including brother, Lynn, and sister, Sandra Davis. A devoted husband and father, Jay married Barbara Frances Carr in 1968. Together they had three children: Arthur (Tri), Clayton and Jenner; who gave them seven grandchildren - Ainsley, Buchannon, Sarah, Audrey, Bianca, Georgia and Leonardo - to routinely spoil. A life-long San Francisco resident, Jay graduated from St. Vincent De Paul Grammar School, St. Ignatius High School, Dartmouth College (cum laude) and Stanford Law School. In 1966, not long after passing the California Bar, Jay joined Fritz Companies, an international transportation service firm started by his father. Heading up the air freight division, Jay oversaw a ten-fold increase in revenue in just three years before selling the division to Del Monte. Jay was named President of Fritz Companies in 1971. In 1986, he would be named Chairman of the company. That same year, Jay was elected President of the National Association of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders of America, a worldwide organization representing over 1,500 firms in the industry. By his retirement in 1988, Fritz Companies was the leading firm of its type in the world, with over 50 offices and 2,000 employees. Upon his retirement, Jay began serving on the boards of numerous transportation and start-up firms. He was also able to concentrate full-time on Fritz Cellars, a Sonoma County winery he founded in 1979. From humble beginnings knocking on the doors of local restaurants, Jay found success again, building Fritz Cellars into a thriving, award-winning business selling over 25,000 cases annually. In 2001, Jay turned the reins of Fritz Cellars over to his son Clayton, who continues to make wine under the Fritz Winery label. Socially, Jay was a member of the Pacific Union Club, Mayacama Golf Club in Santa Rosa, CA, and the Vintage Club in Indian Wells, CA. However, closest to his heart was The Olympic Club. Jay practically grew up on Post St. swimming laps daily, playing on club teams and amassing a closet-full of trophies from wrestling to the club's annual Mississippi Swim. It was at Olympic Club-Lakeside that he discovered his love for the game of golf. Jay would later serve as an Olympic Club Officer and Director. Dedicated to service beyond him, Jay's charitable works are almost too many to mention. He was extremely proud to be named a member of the Board of Regents at his alma mater, St. Ignatius, where he greatly improved the school's endowment and served as a key architect in its transition to co-education. In 1996, Jay was awarded the "Christ The King Award"; The highest honor offered by the school. While fighting a life-threatening form of cancer in his late thirties, Jay was invited to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France as a malade with the Order of Malta. So taken with their devotion to the sick and the poor, Jay became a Knight of St. John himself and would return to Lourdes annually and serve other malades in their journey for spiritual and physical healing. His contributions to the Order in service of the sick and the poor culminated in taking vows as a Knight of Obedience. Jay contributed additional service time as a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, Stewards of St. Peter, Legatus, Daughters of Charity Advisory Board, Cathedral School for Boys Board of Trustees and Santa Catalina School Board of Trustees. In 1995, he and his wife founded the Barbara and Jay Fritz Charitable Foundation which supports numerous worthy organizations with an emphasis on helping children in need. In years past, Jay could also be found working the Christmas tree lot at Fort Mason as a Guardsman. A man of great wisdom and accomplishment, with a deep and abiding love for his family and God, Jay Fritz will be missed by all who knew him. Friends and relatives are invited to St. Dominic's Church, 2390 Bush St. in San Francisco, on January 6th at 6:30 p.m. for a Viewing followed by a Rosary Vigil, and on January 7th at 11:30 a.m. for a Funeral Mass with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to "Mission Dolores Academy Scholarship Fund," 3371 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114. www.halstedngray.com