Fritz, John
About John Fritz
John Fritz was born in Annapolis, MD on January 11th, 1995 and raised in Millersville, MD. Growing up he enjoyed participating in community sports, playing saxophone in the school band, and scouting.
While at Severna Park High School, John ran with the cross country, outdoor and indoor track teams and in his senior year was selected as a team captain. After high school, John continued to run and completed 2 marathons, 1 half-marathon and a tough mudder, a 10 mile extreme obstacle course.
Always a lover of music, John taught himself to play the electric guitar and later formed the band, Ded Walrus, with good high school friends. The band continued to play at UMD - performing at Looney’s Pub in College Park and eventually recording a studio album.
John earned a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering at University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School. He was best known on campus for his involvement as a tour guide with Maryland Images--giving tours, holding leadership positions within the organization, and inspiring prospective students and families to become Terps themselves. After graduation, John moved to Federal Hill, Baltimore with close friends and worked as an engineer for EN Engineering and, later, Northrop Grumman.
In his free time, John was a keen outdoorsman--often found hiking, camping, and running around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor--and had a passion for seeking out adventure. He had a mind for complex and skillful games (both video and board). And he never hesitated to lend a hand to someone in need, always thoughtfully supporting his dear family and friends. John is remembered for many things, but perhaps most for his voracity and love for life.
About the black gum
Nyssa sylvatica, commonly known as tupelo, black tupelo, black gum or sour gum, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern North America from the coastal Northeastern United States and southern Ontario south to central Florida and eastern Texas, as well as Mexico. In the fall, it has striking scarlet leaves, as this is the 'Wildfire' cultivar, one of the University of Maryland's school colors. It also provides a pop of color along the busy Route 1 corridor.
