For the last twenty-five years, Fritz Luedke has called Lakewood home. For the last thirteen of those years, he’s lived on Merrimac Avenue. “After I became an empty nester, I decided to move to a more manageable sized home in a great neighborhood,” Fritz says. Originally from Schenectady, New York, Fritz spent his childhood in Danville, Illinois, about one hundred and twenty miles south of Chicago. When he was in seventh grade, his family moved to Westport, Connecticut, a coastal town. Most of Fritz’s schooling was completed on the East Coast.

 

Fritz is retired, and currently single. He enjoys spending time with his big dog, who he named Big Dog. “Easy to remember,” Fritz says. Fritz’s neighbors may know him from his perpetual presence in his yard. Although he himself may not consider his yard “gorgeous,” Fritz really enjoys trying to maintain the seasonally colored flower landscaping. His green thumb is apparent in his development and maintenance of his rose garden, herb garden, vegetable garden, and shade garden. One of the most popular features of Fritz’s garden is The Treasure Tree, where kids play, hang, rearrange, and swap the toys all year round.

 

When he’s not tending to the vegetation, Fritz enjoys spending time with Phyllis, his twenty-seven year old daughter. Phyllis works in the tech industry on the West Coast, or as Fritz calls it, “High Tech Land.” Before “flying the coop,” Phyllis attended St. John’s Episcopal School from pre-K through eighth grade, before heading off to Ursuline Academy for high school, followed by college and graduate school.

 

Growing up, Phyllis participated in and enjoyed many different clubs, hobbies, and organizations, all the while ensuring Fritz was kept on his toes. When she was in fifth or sixth grade, Phyllis joined an organization now known as Adventure Guides. This wasn’t just an activity for Phyllis; it was an opportunity for Fritz to get in on the adventures. Adventure Guides, a subgroup of the YMCA, is a father-child program designed to strengthen the bond between dads and their kids through outdoor activities, group experiences, and shared adventures. Fathers and children participate in events like camping, canoeing, hiking, and the like. Fritz says this program allowed him and his daughter to make lifelong friends with the nine or ten other families who participated.

 

Though they live a considerable distance apart, Fritz maintains a close relationship with Phyllis. They frequently chat, always keeping in touch and making time and space for each other. Although they stay in contact, Fritz likes it best when he can be together with Phyllis. “It is always a treat when my daughter visits, either on business-related trips or a holiday visit,
  Fritz says. “We both enjoy wining and dining, and love checking out new spots, and their menus.”

 

Now certifiably retired from professional life, Fritz is finding life’s beauty in all new sorts of ways. When his daughter is in town, you may find them enjoying each other’s company in the garden or finding the best secret dish at a local dive. In his personal time, Fritz spends his time with Big Dog, and with the variety of plants and greenery in his garden. With his green thumb in tow and his loved ones by his side, Fritz Luedke is growing a fantastic life in Lakewood.