Captain Stephen “Steve” G. Fritch, 66, husband of Katy McGrath Fritch passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on April 28, 2018 after a courageous battle with ALS. Steve was born in Fitchburg, MA on March 8, 1952, son of the late Ralph and Nancy (Wicky) Fritch. He was a graduate of the Park School in Brookline, MA, Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, NH and the University of New Hampshire with a degree in business.
He made a career in trust and investment banking at the First National Bank of Boston, Shawmut Bank in Worcester, and Fleet Bank in Albany, NY. He then moved to Charter Trust Company in Concord, NH, where he served as President. After his retirement, he and his wife moved to Rockport, MA where Steve had spent his summers from a young age.
In retirement, Steve happily traded in his ties for Hawaiian shirts and pursued his Captain’s license, which gave him the opportunity to move boats from Maine down to the Caribbean, captain duck boats in Boston, and support whale watches out of Gloucester, MA. Steve was an accomplished sailor and skier, and his summers growing up in Rockport were active ones. From being on the race course in Sandy Bay in the Turnabouts, Firefly and Hobi Cats, to cruising the coast from Maine to Rhode Island with his family on sailboat Scrambled, to captaining Loblolly Seal Cruises aboard Seaweed – he was happiest being on the ocean.
He was a lifelong member of the Sandy Bay Yacht Club, where he was deeply involved as a young sailing instructor, Race Committee Chairman, Commodore, and social committee chair with his wife. Steve enjoyed spending his winters skiing. His father taught him to ski at a young age, and he passed that skill and passion onto his two daughters.
He spent many winters with his family in Woodstock, VT skiing on the slopes at Suicide Six. Along with his wife Katy, Steve is survived by daughters Emily Fritch Cochran and husband Brett of Boston, Meredith G. Fritch and her companion Cody Miller of Saratoga Springs, NY, granddaughter Alycia Rose Cioto, and her mother – stepdaughter Casey McGrath, sister Pamela Prichard and her husband Robert of Rockport, niece Amy Jacobson Burris and nephew Peter W. Jacobson. Steve made friends everywhere he went and he will be sorely missed by wonderful and caring friends, too numerous to count.
Steve was predeceased by a newborn daughter, Hope Elizabeth Fritch. Friends and relatives are invited to celebrate his life at 11am, Monday May 7th at the First Congregational Church of Rockport, 22 Main Street, Rockport, MA. Following Steve’s lead, casual attire is suggested and Hawaiian shirts would be eagerly welcomed!
Feel free to leave your tie at the door. Steve’s ashes will be scattered in his beloved ocean at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be given to the Sandy Bay Yacht Club Sailing Program, P.O. Box 37, Rockport, MA 01966 or Massachusetts ALS Association, 685 Canton St. Suite 103, Norwood, MA 02062, which provides support to ALS patients and their families.
Online condolences may be given at: www.
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