John H. Fritz *50

John Fritz, a retired professor of history and dean of arts and sciences at Fairleigh Dickinson University, died Feb. 9, 2012. He was 87.

After high school, Fritz enlisted in World War II and was called up for the Korean War. In between, he graduated from The College of William & Mary in 1948, and in 1950 earned a master’s degree in history from Princeton. He retired from Fairleigh Dickinson in 1974.

Fritz’s great interest was U.S. equestrian activity. He officiated at Olympic games, Pan-American games, and in all major U.S. championships. He had been CEO of the U.S. Equestrian Team, and was key to developing teams at Culver Academy and Texas A&M University. Fritz was a trustee at Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J., from 1990 to 2008, and chair of its equestrian advisory council. The equestrian team’s arena was named for him. Centenary awarded him an honorary doctor of humane letters in 2003.

A loyal Princetonian, Fritz was a life member of the APGA and had been a member of its board. He was a generous donor to the Graduate School’s AG campaigns for 39 years.

Fritz died in his birthplace, Rockford, Ill., and is survived by numerous cousins.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.