Robert Newton Fryer IV

1937 - 2021

Robert Newton Fryer IV
June 21, 1937 - August 4, 2021
Lawrenceburg, Kentucky - Robert Newton Fryer IV (Bob) was born June 21st, 1937. He was the only child of Jane McKee and Robert Fryer III. Bob's mother was from Lawrenceburg and his father grew up in Fort Thomas. His parents met at a dance at Kamp Kaydet down on the Kentucky River in Woodford County. For years, Bob believed that there was a plaque on the floor that read "Bob and Jane Fryer met here" but realized later that his parents were pulling his leg.
Bob grew up in Fort Thomas. His dad was a regional manager for Canada Dry and his mom stayed home. He had a dog named Nipper whom he adored. In fact, when Nipper was hit by a car, there followed a series of dogs all of whom assumed the name Nipper. When he was sent off to summer camp (at Kamp Kaydet), his parents told him that if he was unhappy, to write home and mention Nipper. His first letter home read: "How's Nipper? I miss Nipper. I sure hope Nipper is doing well." He ended up staying at summer camp.
Evidence of his great sense of humor showed up at an early age. He would hide behind some bushes in Fort Thomas and tie a purse to a string. He would wait for an unsuspecting person to reach down to pick up the purse and then he would yank it away. He reflected later that the old ladies in the neighborhood probably knew exactly what he was up to and that they would only go for the purse to hear the bushes giggle.
Bob went to Hanover College for two years before transferring to Miami of Ohio. Bob met Emily Perlman at Miami of Ohio; They were married in 1960 and had two children: Robert Fryer V (1961) and Martha Fryer (1963).
Their family first lived in Long Beach, California where Bob served in the Navy prior to and during part of the Vietnam War. Last week, when asked about his service, he said: "People always thanked me for my service, but I had a hell of a good time." Bob served on a minesweeper, the U.S.S. Constant (MSO-427), in the Philippines. Bob was one of three junior officers assigned to the ship. He said that you could get 10¢ beers and $1 steak dinners at the Officer's Club. Bob's uncle was Commodore Andrew McKee, at the time the highest-ranking officer in the Navy. Bob was embarrassed one day when his uncle came aboard to chat with him and everyone on the ship came on deck to salute.
Bob was discharged a Lieutenant and moved with his family back to Fort Thomas. They lived for a year with his mother, as his father had recently passed away. Their next stop was Plantation, Florida, where Bobby and Martha grew up. The family home in Fort Thomas was surrounded by towering oak and maple trees, and Bob developed a lifelong love of trees. He planted numerous trees at his home in Plantation and years later was excited to see a picture that showed his yard full of mature trees. Bob worked for Chase Federal Savings and Loan and attended the University of Miami School of Law in the evening. He practiced law in Florida from 1971 to 2000.
Throughout the 1990s, Bob taught a Dale Carnegie course on public speaking. Judi Einheit, a store manager for J.M. Fields, had been selected to become a district manager provided that she take a class on public speaking. The course that she selected happened to be the one that Bob was teaching. Bob told Judi later, that the first time she gave one of the assigned speeches, he knew he was going to marry her. They were wed in 1998.
Around that time, the McKee family home in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky had fallen into disrepair. There were squatters living in the house and it was set to be sold for delinquent taxes. Bob and Judi visited the house and Judi announced that they should buy it. Bob was skeptical at first, but Judi proved more than capable of the task. The house was built in 1885 by Bob's maternal grandfather, Lewis Witherspoon McKee. Bob's mother, Jane, was born in the front parlor in 1905. Bob and Judi moved there full time in 2000.
Bob died young. He joked that his 80s were "middle age", and we believed him. He still worked full time at Walther, Gay, and Mack law firm and helped his wife with antique shows on the weekend. He enjoyed walking in his woods, often followed by four of his cats. In the evening, he would sit on his screened in porch and listen to the animals or sit inside and read a book on the American Civil War. Bob and Judi spent the last year renovating The Oak Lodge, a historic 1818 cabin that abuts their property. He sat on the back porch of the cabin last week, drinking a glass of wine, and remarked how happy he was to have completed the project.
Bob died unexpectedly from complications of a heart procedure on August 4th, 2021. Bob is survived by his wife, Judi; his three children, Bobby Fryer (Bridget Dempsey), Martha Fryer Gay (Jon Gay), and Steven Einheit (Kelly Einheit); and three grandchildren, Robbie Gay (Anna Billhymer), William Gay (available), and Sydney Dempsey (Danielle Adamowitz). Bob had a keen intellect, kind manner, and a great sense of humor. He leaves behind more books than his children and grandchildren could ever hope to read and five cats, all rescued as strays. He loved a good joke and had a dry sense of humor. He would either confuse or amuse the wait staff of many local restaurants when he would request "their very best" filet or salad.
In his lifetime, Bob must have planted hundreds of trees at his home in Lawrenceburg. He particularly liked the tulip poplar because it would grow fast enough for him to see it get tall. If you want to honor Bob, we ask that you plant a tree or go for a walk in the woods. A celebration of life will be held 3 p.m. today (Sunday) at his home in Lawrenceburg.