Fritz Roy Huntsinger passed away at home on April 17, 2018, at the age of 83.
Fritz was born in Oxnard, California on February 28, 1935. He was predeceased by his parents Fritz and Mathilde Huntsinger, and his brother Carl F. Huntsinger.
He grew up in Ventura, where he attended E.P. Foster Grammar School and graduated from Ventura High School in 1952. His favorite pastimes included track and field, and surfing. He graduated from Stanford University in 1957, where he studied engineering and economics, and was an active member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, where he made life-long friends. For a short time, he proudly served in the Army.
Fritz married the love of his life, Nancy Rogers, in Alexandria, Virginia in 1958. They lived in Houston, Texas; Ventura, California; Walton-on-Thames, England; and then back to Ventura. Together they raised three daughters, and traveled the world.
Fritz started his career in the oil business at Grey Tool Inc. in Houston, Texas, and then joined the family business, Ventura Tool Company, when they moved to Ventura in 1960. He opened an international office in London in 1966, and eventually became president and CEO of Vetco Offshore Industries. He held a patent in the field of petroleum engineering. When the company was sold to Combustion Engineering in 1978, he retired and turned his energies to his family and his community. Fritz helped coach his daughters' high school track team and attended all their sports events. He was very active at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, where he served on their board of Directors for 40 years, was the Chairman of the board for 5 years, and was a founding member of the CMH Benefactors. He was also a trustee of St. Paul's School in Ventura and Hood College, Frederick, MD. Fritz was on the council for Boys Scouts of America; the board of the Salvation Army, Ventura; and the R.M. Pyles Boys Camp in Huntington Beach, California.
Fritz enjoyed running an avocado ranch, relaxing at the beach, fly fishing with his KA friends, golfing at Saticoy Country Club, and joining the Lunch Bunch every Friday. He was a founding member and Maitre of the Santa Barbara chapter of the Commanderie de Bordeaux. He and Nancy travelled often to see family and friends, saw local friends at El Cien and Las Patronas, and loved good food and good wine!
Fritz is survived by his wife Nancy; their daughters: Susan Petitpas (Steve), Liz Pavlov (George) and Gretchen Wyatt (Mike), and eight grandchildren: Georges, Charles, Catherine, Caroline, Andrew, Madeline, Morgan, and Amy.
The Huntsinger Family would like to thank the staff of Livingston Memorial and Bright Star for their excellent care of Fritz over the last few months.
Private family services will be held.
Please join us for a celebration of Fritz's life on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at the Saticoy Country Club from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation or the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon funeral home.