Frederick Bruch Gretsch, Sr.

Frederick Bruch Gretsch, Sr., died in his Colorado home on January 16, 2024. He was 78 years old.

Fred was born October 19, 1945, to Richard F. Gretsch, Sr., and Dr. Barbara Jean (Ininger) Gretsch, and was the the oldest of eight children. He grew up in Newtown, Connecticut, where he spent his youth involved in various activities including golf, tennis, skiing, swimming and Scouts. He attended Hawley Elementary School and Cranwell Preparatory School before pursuing his undergraduate degree at Georgetown University. At Georgetown, he was a member of the tennis team and the Glee Club (and became a lifelong Hoyas fan). Fred was a loyal friend to his classmates at Cranwell and Georgetown, attending every reunion since 1963. He continued his studies at Columbia University, where he received his MBA.

Following graduate school, Fred served his country in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany and Thailand during the Vietnam conflict. He earned the rank of Army Captain, receiving the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After serving in the military, Fred entered the private sector, where embarked on a successful career in finance, operations, and management. He held esteemed leadership positions with RCA, Citibank, General Dynamics, Vail Resorts, ON Semiconductor, Southwest Storage, and was also a Partner at Tatum CFO.

Although he wasn't actively involved in the business, Fred was very proud of his family's music heritage, The Gretsch Company, a musical instrument manufacturer founded by his great grandfather, Friedrich Gretsch, in 1883 in Brooklyn, NY.

Above all else, Fred cherished his roles as husband, father, and grandfather. In January 1969, he married his first wife, Anne (Bastien) Gretsch. Anne and Fred had three children together: Bruch, Joe, and Michelle. In July 1986, Fred married his current wife, Ann (Blaser) Gretsch. Ann brought three daughters to the marriage: Victoria, Jeniffer, and Octavia. He and Ann had two children together: Edward and Garrett. Fred treasured his time with family, creating an environment where they could play together, learn together, work together, and laugh together.

Fred's love for sports and the outdoors remained throughout his life. He was an avid tennis player, skier, golfer, hiker, and traveler. If he wasn't acing an opponent on the tennis court or playing a competitive round of golf with friends, he was schussing down a powdery mountain slope or summiting a Rocky Mountain peak, exhilarated by the sun on his face and the wind in his hair.

In his later years, he divided his time between Gilbert, Arizona and Edwards, Colorado. Fred never met a stranger and was a well-known pillar of the community in both cities. He generously volunteered his time on the ski slopes of Beaver Creek in the winter and led hiking trips for Arizona youth groups in the summer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard F. Gretsch, Sr., and Barbara Jean Gretsch, and sister Mary Patricia (Pat) Gretsch. His survivors include his loving wife, Ann B. Gretsch; his six siblings, Barbara Schmidt, Carol Gretsch, Richard F. Gretsch, Jr., Stacy Murphy, Judy Getchell, and Molly Lynch; his five children, Frederick B. Gretsch, Jr.(Bruch), Richard J. Gretsch (Joe), Anne M. Roth (Michelle), Edward Gretsch, and Garrett Gretsch; his three stepchildren, Victoria Orndorff, Jeniffer Blaser, and Octavia Gibson; 18 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; his former wife Anne Bastien; and a long list of loving cousins, relatives, and dear friends.

Fred's life motto was, "Stay young with all your might," and he embodied this exhortation during his fruitful life. His loved ones will always remember his abundant energy, strong work ethic, integrity, adventurous spirit, and infectious smile.

His family will hold a celebration of life on March 7, 2024, at 1 PM at the Val Vista Lakes Clubhouse, 1600 E. Lakeside Dr. Gilbert, AZ 85234. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Fred's memory to Paz de Cristo (https://pazdecristo.org/) or KJZZ (https://kjzz.org/).