Commissioner Amanda Fritz—mourning the sudden death of her husband in a multi-vehicle crash in Salem on Wednesday morning—has announced plans for what she’s hoping will be a fun-loving, irreverent public memorial or Dr. Steven Fritz this Sunday afternoon in Terry D. Schrunk Plaza.
The event’s planned for 5 pm, and there’s more than a gentle suggestion that anyone showing up dress flamboyantly rather than formally—in honor of Dr. Fritz’s apparent penchant for expressing his “inner weirdness.” (Case in point? In the family photo we ran with our post on the tragedy yesterday, Dr. Fritz was wearing a “24-Hour Church of Elvis” T-shirt. That made all of us over here smile.)
Dr. Fritz, a psychiatrist at the Oregon State Hospital, was carpooling with a colleague in his infamous zebra-striped 1993 Nissan Sentra—better-known by its license plate “ZENTRA”—when a pickup truck in a crash across Interstate 5 crossed the median and hit his car head-on. The car was a famous sight for Salem-to-Portland commuters. Today’s announcement says Fritz first heard her husband was in a crash from friends and others who’d recognized the Nissan in news reports and called her up.
If you haven’t read it, the O‘s Brad Schmidt wrote an elegant piece about Dr. Fritz and all the lives he touched in Portland’s arts and mental health communities, and also how he and his wife worked for years to support one another while raising three children who’ve all since been launched into adulthood. All of those worlds—the political and the not—will come together on Sunday.
Fritz’s office has also issued a list of organizations where donations in Dr. Fritz’s name might be directed, in lieu of flowers and cards.
Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz has announced plans for events to celebrate the life of her husband, Dr. Steven Fritz, who died suddenly in an automobile accident in Salem, OR on September 24, 2014, while on his way to work at Oregon State Hospital. He was killed instantly by a pickup crossing the median on I-5 in wet weather, hitting his beloved zebra-painted car. He had often loaned it to his wife for community parades. Commissioner Fritz first heard about the crash because passers-by recognized the car and contacted her.
One of Steve’s friends wrote on hearing the news, “If you’ve ever thought your car was boring, and you’d like to paint it up, say, turn it into a zebra car? Well DO IT, people! And when you die, people will not sit around wondering, “Did she do the things she wanted? Did he express his inner self? Did she tragically ignore her inner weirdness?” They will be horrifically sad, but they will smile every time they think of you, your car, those stripes.”
“That comment illustrates why people loved and were inspired by Steve,” said Commissioner Fritz. “He made the most of every day, finding entertainment even in mundane chores like the daily commute. Our children and I are greatly comforted by the outpouring of support we’ve received. He touched so many lives, in great and small ways. We appreciate seeing the recognition that he made a difference in our community – while at the same time having fun.”
Everyone is welcome to attend the public Celebration of Life on Sunday, September 28 at 5 p.m. in Terry Schrunk Plaza, SW 3rd and Jefferson. Participants are encouraged to bring a candle, and to have fun dressing in whatever you feel is appropriate to honor him and/or amuse yourself and others. A private family service will be held on Saturday, by invitation.
The family suggests donations to honor Dr. Fritz in lieu of flowers and cards be made to:
New Oregon Arts & Letters
Send check to New Oregon Arts & Letters, PO Box 2863, Portland, OR 97208The Salvation Army, Portland Tabernacle Corps or West Women’s Shelter
I hope you go to sleep at night knowing what a piece of shit you are Hydra
@hydra
Kill yourself.
I have that exact t-shirt. 🙂 He sounds like he was an incredible person.
Also, Hydra, DIAF you asshole.
I was lucky enough to work with him and get to know him a bit. He was really a tremendous advocate for his patients. He also had a zest for living and a lack of concern for some conventionalities that I deeply admired.
The world is a lesser place without him in it, but at least we were lucky enough to have him in the world for more than 50 years.
Dr. Fritz was everything anybody could want in a psychiatrist. He truly collaborated with his patients. He was also the type of person who would dance and not care if anybody was watching. He seemed to live life to the fullest, as few do. He will be greatly missed.
I’ll just donate some sperm at a local brothel.
Dry White Toast, just when Dr. Fritz, a great man who helped those less fortunate, dies, we are reminded there are are people like you who contribute nothing.
The widow attempts to redefine local street prostitution as human trafficking, while ignoring the fact that Central American girls are abducted and brought to Portland and forced to work in underground brothels. Follow the money.
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/hall-monitor/Content?oid=11161558
What percentage of the deceased estate will be donated to the above listed charities? There will be no probate of the late doctor’s estate, unless at least one person calls for one. That individual can be anyone from the general public.
Dry White Toast, you are a piece of shit. It’s too bad Steve Fritz died while a worthless fuck like you is alive.
The rampant neglect and abuse at Oregon State Hospital is continues, because patients there are mostly indigent and transient; many of them illegal immigrants. There is nobody available to serve as emergency contact or hire them a lawyer. The deceased specialized in victims of sexual abuse. Such patients are generally codependent and easily manipulated into further incidence of abuse. They make ideal recruits for prostitution.
http://www.amirahboston.org/the-psychology-of-pimping/
The power dynamics in the pimp-victim relationship often create a traumatic bond between the pimp and the victim. This is one way that the pimp controls their victim so that they do not seek help. Mind games, lies, and manipulation become the driving method in which pimps enforce their authority.
Isolation is a key tool that is used by pimps to remain in control of their victims. The women are isolated by being lied to, convinced that they’re better off without their family and friends, or even being locked away. When a pimp can get someone isolated, they have even more control over their victim’s actions
http://www.mindfreedom.org/member-folder/as/act-archives/us/or/osh-death
Another Suspicious Death Inside Oregon State Hospital
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/oregon_state_hospitals_dark_hi.html
A decade since thousands of copper urns were discovered in the Oregon State Hospital’s basement, officials unveiled a new memorial here Monday designed to honor the patients and confront the facility’s dark history of mistreating the mentally ill. …