"Fritz who?" Mr. Fritz", "I mean, Mr. Fritz". Most people who knew of Fritz Reiter thought he was just Mr. Fritz. I know, because I was called that, many times during my 17-year career at the Lobster Pot and Hot Penny.

Most people just knew that he was big, which he was, in every sense of the word. I was big, but not that big! When Fritz wasn't working, I became Mr. Fritz. Looking back, that was an honour, and one of the few benefits of being size challenged.

Fritz Reiter arrived on our shores to become one of the chefs at the Bermudiana Hotel (right next to the not yet begun Lobster Pot). He always told people that he couldn't stand the freezing cold of Germany's Black Forest - he loved the outdoors.

In terms of time, after a few years, Fritz became involved with the local scene and personalities in the business and sports community and soon settled down to adopting the Island as his new home.

He joined up with Hotels International, primarily a social soccer club, comprising mostly hotel and restaurant staff, locals and foreigners.

For those who only knew Fritz more recently, you may be surprised to know that Herr Reiter, more than adequately filled the key position on the team as goalkeeper. He was very good too. He told me that the hardest job he had was to stay on his feet!

Fritz left the Bermudiana Hotel and became the chef at the elite `Sovereign Room', which was above the Hog Penny, the present site of the `Fisherman's Reef'. At 11 p.m. the tables and chairs would be reorganised and the `Sovereign Room' would become the `Guinea Discotheque'.

Fritz had won the appetites of many supporters and his reputation for first class culinary delights was won in great demand. When the `Hoppin' John' opened on Front Street in the late 60's, Fritz moved there as the Executive Chef. This landmark has since been known as the `Rum Runners' and more recently `The Porch'.

I had the unique experience, while attending Neil Hansford-Smith's Hotel & Catering College during the day to work alongside Fritz every night. Hence my introduction to this fine gentleman. He could place two oysters in one hand and shuck them in about 25 seconds!

Even in more recent times, Fritz used to don his chef's uniform and fill a void whenever the need arose.

The `Hoppin' John' was a busy, thriving Front Street Restaurant and Fritz soon became the manager and came out of the kitchen.

They used to serve a very popular Sunday Brunch and because I worked in the kitchen, I had to be on duty. This often conflicted with my powerboat-racing schedule.

Fritz used to quiz me to no end on this "powerboat racing stuff" and said that he would love to get involved - if he could get a Sunday off.

Well, he did get involved and bought his own 20-foot offshore powerboat. Bright yellow, with red lobsters painted down each side! She was fast! No. 71 was the big Lobster! For the most part Fritz crewed as co-pilot, simply because he couldn't squeeze in behind the wheel with his life jacket on.

In between all this time he and his wife Joan opened the Lobster Pot Restaurant, in 1973, at the old `Tam o' Shanter. The restaurant celebrates its 30th birthday in April this year.

Fritz's first success with major sponsorship came in 1978, when he staged the first ever two-hour offshore powerboat race, which passed through St. George's Harbour. Unfortunately, Fritz flipped and sank during the event. I stopped along side on North Shore in the middle of the Channel to see if he was OK. All I could see was Fritz from the waist-up. No sign of the boat! He shouted: "Keep going, I'm going down with my ship!" What a guy!

We both tried to hold the race again in 1985 but the Government strongly objected. He loved the ocean - before he loved the golf course.

It was in the early 1970's that he purchased a 42' Bruno that he fitted out as a charter fishing boat called `Lobster Reef'. The boat supplied fish for the restaurant and many years of enjoyment for Fritz, his family and friends. On weekends, it became the party boat, a sort of floating restaurant, which was the centre of attention for many raft-ups.

Fritz loved to fish on the ocean, and told some real tall fish(y) stories! When the charters took our visitors out fishing, they would leave the dock with their Lobster Pot packed lunches, enjoy the day fishing, then bring their catch back to the restaurant, where it was prepared to perfection for their personal meal.

Somewhere in between all this Fritz started the `Lobster Pot' in Florida. He spent a lot of time travelling back and forth. The almost twin businesses, enjoy a similar menu and character and are hugely successful.

The Lobster Pot's world famous fish chowder was produced in Florida and sold in cans in the retail market.

Fritz's second successful venture in major sponsorship, involved the sole sponsorship of Eddie Roque and the famous Lobster Pot Special - No. 241, the colourful black, red and gold `Seebold' tunnel hull then won every major event in Bermuda over a period of 3 years. The boat retired, undefeated, in 1979.

In 1977, Fritz had the race boat built for Eddie to represent Bermuda in the USA. This was a trail-blazing event, never before attempted. It set the stage for more recent drivers to do the same.

In Eddie's first race, a nine-hour marathon on the Colorado River in Arizona, he was run over in the first turn by another boat and disintegrated - fortunately no one was hurt. Pieces of the boat and photos hang in the restaurant for all to see. The boat was repaired by the maker and sent to Bermuda for Eddie to race here. Fritz talked for years about the `see-ox" Indians that lived near the racetrack. He was, mispronouncing the name of the Sioux Indians!

In 1982 Fritz began to host the Lobster Pot Pro-Am Golf Tournament, which brought hundreds of visitors to the Island to compete each year.

This tribute should not have had to be written for at least another 30 years. Fritz's medical successes never seemed to mirror his life of success in all he did. Simply, Fritz Reiter was an institution. Institutions last forever.

For almost the last two years he has been quietly, heroically fighting a raging battle with cancer. I have kept in constant touch and really admire his bravery and courage as he faced one upset after another. He waged a huge determined fight. Most of us would have caved in - a real inspiration to all those who stood by his side.

His enjoyment of life, people and the service industry was magnetic and dynamic. What a colourful guy!

We are all deeply upset and saddened. We cannot understand the reasons or methods for why God allows things like this to happen. There is comfort, however, in knowing that by his example, we are all better people for having been touched by Fritz Reiter.

Every person in this Church and many more elsewhere, have been affected in some way and will be uniquely privileged to cherish some very special memories.

Fritz had a predictable habit, when the conditions were right, to blurt out the German World Cup Football team's famous chant of 1966. No one ever knew where or when it was coming. When it came - you felt compelled to join in!

So to you, my mate, my dear friend - we all say farewell and ask that God bless you on your journey. We love you. Quo Fata Ferunt.

Zigger Zagger, Zigger Zagger, Heut! Heut! Heut!

@EDITRULE:

Contributed by Mark Selley.