Fred Little

Fred Little

Fred A. (known to many as "Fritz") Little Jr., 86, died December 28, 2017 at his home following an illness.

Fritz is survived by his wife of five years, Connie Little; his daughter Anne L. Gruppo (husband David) of Larchmont, NY, granddaughters Erika Gruppo, Katherine Gruppo, and grandson Samuel Gruppo; his daughter Caroline H. Little (husband Daniel Burton) of Santa Fe, NM, granddaughters Kristina Burton (husband Nate Schneiders), and Sophia Burton; his son Winston Little (wife Amy Rubenstein) of San Francisco, CA, granddaughter Josephine Little and grandson Henry Little.

In 2008 Fritz was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years Erika Bast Little.

Fritz was born and raised in Des Moines, IA, the son of Helen Jane Barnett and Fred A. Little. During his career as an attorney, Fritz resided in Chevy Chase, MD. He retired to Santa Fe, NM, and later moved to San Francisco.

Fritz attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA, receiving a BA degree in history in 1953. He remained devoted to Grinnell throughout his life. He joined the Board of Trustees in 1976, serving as chair of the Board of Trustees and was elected a Life Trustee in 1996.

Following military service in Germany, Fritz received a law degree in 1958 from Harvard University and a master of law degree in securities law in 1961 from Georgetown University, where he later served as an adjunct professor of securities law.

His distinguished career in law included a partnership at the Washington, DC firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

Fritz was also involved in many charitable and civic causes. He was a devoted St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers fan since 1939 and could cite baseball statistics with the same fluency that enabled him to analyze the stock market and to quote poetry. He took great joy in dogs, baseball, literature, mystery novels, travel and, in his words, above all, he loved his family fiercely.