FREDERICK LUDWIG JOUTZ
Frederick Ludwig Joutz, 68, of Rockville, Maryland passed away on Monday, February 21, 2022, surrounded by his family and loved ones, due to prostate cancer. Fred was born on July 15, 1953 to Ludwig Joutz and Lucy Hervey in Washington D.C. He grew up in the District and surrounding suburbs and was active in Boy Scouting where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Fred attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and an international high school in Germany. After that, he pursued a degree in International Economics at the University of Maryland - College Park. He then obtained a master's degree in Economics at the University of British Columbia and later a PhD in Economics from the University of Washington, Seattle. Fred worked as a professor of Economics and co-director of the Research Program on Forecasting at the George Washington University in Washington D.C. for over thirty years. His research focused on macroeconomic and energy econometric modeling and forecasting. He also served as a consultant and technical expert to several energy agencies and offices as well as countries in the Caribbean, Middle East and the continents of Africa and Asia. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends; traveling the world; camping, canoeing and fishing; and everything pistachio. Fred will be dearly missed and always remembered. Fred is survived by his wife Catherine Ruth Halstead, his children Andre Joseph, Marguerite MCray (Manas Gautam), Dmitri Marten, and Ivan Alexander as well as step children Joseph and Roberta Palumbo and grandson Leonardo Palumbo. He also leaves behind a brother Ludwig, cousins Michael Herman, Peter Benedict, Gail Adams, Robert Benedict, and former wife Jane de Winter in addition to many long-time friends and colleagues. Fred requested a celebration of life be held in his honor as opposed to traditional funeral services. We invite all of Fred's loved ones to join us in celebrating his beautiful life at Garrett Park Town Hall on Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made in Fred's honor to the charity of your own choice.

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Published by The Washington Post on Feb. 25, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for FREDERICK JOUTZ

17 Entries

Julian Silk

February 19, 2025

An honest man and something of a genius in economics.

Lindolfo Pedraza

February 22, 2024

Two years have gone by and still it was yesterday when we said goodbye.

I miss you buddy.

Tarek H. Selim

October 6, 2023

It is very sad to hear about the passing of Prof. Joutz. He was a welcoming person with a charming smile. He had a distinctive and a very warm approach to any person he met. He taught me macro and econometrics in late 90s while doing Phd in economics at GWU. I remember him fond of travel, family, wife and young kids. He was a very inspiring teacher and researcher. Always available to others when they need him. I still remember that he had critiques of some economic theories back then. This was much before behavioral and experimental economics were mainstream. God rest his soul in peace.

Julian Silk

February 19, 2023

This will be brief. Dr. Fred was also able to socialize. He went to the meetings in Rio De Janeiro and did go to the dance that was held on Sugarloaf Mountain, a somewhat nerve-wracking cable car ride from the mainland.

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Julian Silk

February 14, 2023

One of the things to note about Dr. Fred is that he shared an office with me in the U.S. Dept. of Energy Forrestal building in the late 1980s - early 1990s.

Trish Arnold, CCAS Instructional Designer

September 19, 2022

My deepest condolences and prayers to Professor Joutz's family and friends. Although I knew him briefly, I sensed Professor Joutz had a great passion for his discipline and for life in general.
Blessings to all.

Christopher Snyder

March 11, 2022

I got to know Fred when I started my first job as an Assistant Professor in the George Washington University Economics Department all the way back in 1994. Fred's technical savvy made him a natural choice for the Department's technology coordinator, and helped order and set up my computer. So he was my first contact at GW months before I started teaching and was instrumental in getting me up and running.

Fred's kindness, humor, practicality, and economic insight, experienced daily over my subsequent decade during which we were colleagues, were instantly evident from those first interactions. Junior faculty have a difficult time struggling to integrate into a department, make a mark, hopefully get tenure. Having a senior colleague like Fred to welcome me, treat me not just as a colleague but a friend, show me how to take work very seriously, but still not too seriously, those are lessons I strive to pass on to my junior colleagues.

Having left GW for the North over a decade ago, I do miss my friends there. I have missed Fred's updates about his forecasting work, but also about his family, of whom he spoke with such pride, and his outdoor exploits. Being so far away, I did not realize he was ill, so learning of his passing was a shock. According to my memory, Fred is an ageless person, a physical specimen who could shrug off the elements.

Fred made a mark on my life, and I will never forget him. My deepest sympathies to Fred's his family and the Economics Department for Fred's loss. Distance prevents me from being at the memorial in person, but I will be there in spirit, thinking of Fred, his family, and my GW friends.

In sympathy,

---Chris Snyder

Robert Alan Yaffee

March 9, 2022

We're going to miss Fred. He was a good person and fine colleague.
Bob Yaffee

Carol A Cormack

Planted Trees

Julian Silk

March 2, 2022

It's a terrible loss, and let me wish the family comfort and consolation.

Kenneth Medlock

Planted Trees

Robert Trost

February 27, 2022

Fred's love of life was evident to all who knew him. Our lives were enriched by his love of people. Like the great golfer, Byron Nelson, Fred knew "how to be a decent man."

Maria Young

February 27, 2022

I worked with Fred at KAPSARC in Riyadh. He cooked for Carol and I many times. Always a smile and a story. I am glad I had the opportunity to know him. My thoughts are with you all.

David Ribar

February 26, 2022

Fred was a tremendous colleague and educator. He was especially generous with help and mentorship when I was a member of the Economics Department. He was also generous with his help and advice to countless students. My deepest sympathies are with his family and colleagues.

Ramses Omar Cabrales

February 25, 2022

My deepest condolences to all of Fred's family, especially Ruth and the children. I have not had the pleasure of meeting you in person, but Fred's warm stories about you make me feel as if we have met. I first met Fred through our professional network, and bonded over time as we discussed our personal triumphs and travails over beers. He spoke proudly of his children, and I vividly recall his joy as he told me about meeting Ruth in and later the pride with which he sent me wedding videos. I am deeply saddened by his passing and will miss him.

Murat ISSABAYEV from Kazakhstan!

February 25, 2022

I am so sad to hear this sad news and hardly keep myself. I feel lost, my heart is bleak. I can´t find the right word to describe my feelings. I express my deep condolences to family of my beloved Professor at GW. He was nice and always supportive to me. He never left my emails unanswered and always gave me generous advice in all respect. He was planning to visit Kazakhstan some time in the future, and we were supposed to meet here. He will be missed in our hearts. Again my deep condolences to his family.

Frank Titus

February 25, 2022

RIP Fred.

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