Sandra Dombroski Fritsch

1946 - 2019

PHILADELPHIA — Dr. Sandra Dombroski Fritsch succumbed to the effects of a 23-year struggle with Parkinson's Disease on Jan. 13, 2019, at her home in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. She was born on Nov. 11, 1946, in Nanticoke. Her parents were Dr. Stanley Dombroski and Mrs. Jeannette Dombroski (née Radecki).

Dr. Fritsch graduated from St. Ann's Academy in Wilkes Barre, received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., a master's in experimental psychology from Villanova University, and a doctorate in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She also did specialized training at the Gestalt Institute of New York and at the Council for Relationships in Philadelphia. She had a particular interest in working with children and their families. She was a staff psychologist at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, and the director of the mental health clinic at St Vincent's Home for Children in Southwest Philadelphia. Her doctoral work looked at the relationship between attachment and cognitive organization, a topic which has received much attention in recent years.

She married Dr. Kilian Fritsch in May of 1980. She devoted herself to the raising of her children and became intensely involved in their educational lives, serving as the president of the board of Hillary House Day Care Center, president of the Norwood-Fontbonne Home and School Association, and numerous projects at Springside School.

Following her diagnosis with Parkinson's Disease in 1996, Dr. Fritsch became involved with the Movement Disorders Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, first as a support group leader and facilitator, and later she became the first therapist to offer counseling to Parkinsonians, their spouses and families at the newly formed Counseling Service at the Movement Disorders Center. She became a valued member of the treatment team, and will be remembered fondly.

She was a member of the American Psychological Association, the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, and the American Family Therapy Academy.

Since 1987, Dr. Fritsch loved spending time at her family's property on the Susquehanna River in Bradford County. She developed many friendships in the Wyalusing area, and she spearheaded a project which brought maple syrup produced by Epler Family Farm to the Weavers Way cooperative in northwest Philadelphia. She was also an avid tennis player at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, as well as an equestrian in Philadelphia, in addition to keeping a horse at her daughter Sasha's barn in Bradford County.

She never ceased to delight in the growing lives of her grandsons, and it was always important for her to have one or more dogs, the more lively the better.

Dr. Fritsch is survived by her husband, Dr. Kilian Fritsch, of Philadelphia and Quick's Bend; daughters, Sasha Kone (Martin) of Herrickville and Triona Dombroski-Fritsch (Samuel Brewster) of Hollowville, N.Y.; grandsons, Garrett and Morgan Kone of Herrickville; and a brother, Dr. S. Wayne Dombroski (Bonnie) of Dallas.

Family and friends are invited to Dr. Fritsch's committal service at the Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve at 293 Irish Hill Road in Newfield, N.Y., at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. A memorial gathering in Chestnut Hill will be announced at a later date. Please RSVP for either event by emailing tri.fritsch@gmail.com.

The family requests that contributions be made in her name to the Dan Aaron Center at the Movement Disorders Unit at Pennsylvania Hospital.