Post a reply || Back to NFA Class Memorial Page.. Francis T. "Fritz" Chanowitz - Class of 1948 Submitted by Pauline Rute Hall 1952 <Grammypgh@aol.com> on 20/Sep/2015
Francis T. "Fritz" Chanowitz, a retiree from Dupont in Newburgh, NY and the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, a resident of the Town of Newburgh and loving husband of the late Dorothy Reilly Chanowitz, entered into rest at home after a lengthy illness surrounded by his family. He was 86. Born on February 3, 1929 in Passaic, NJ, Fritz and his family relocated to Newburgh, NY. After he graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1948, Fritz enlisted in the Marine Corps on October 3, 1948. After completing basic training at Parris Island, SC, he was assigned to the Engineer Combat Battalion and stationed at Camp LeJeune, NC. When the Korean War broke out in June, 1950, Fritz and his Marine battalion were shipped overseas. One of the first groups to arrive at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, they were dubbed the "Frozen Chosin" or "Chosin Few". After Fritz was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in August, 1952, he married his high school sweetheart whom he called his "Irish Colleen", Dorothy Reilly, on July 4, 1953, and had five wonderful children. They celebrated 45 years of marriage together before Dottie's death on November 25, 1998. Despondent over losing the love of his life, and after much prodding from his family, Fritz joined a local fitness center where he thrived by doing a lot of volunteer work and utilizing his carpentry skills to enhance the inside of the building. "Once a Marine, always a Marine. Semper Fi, Dad!" Survivors include his children, daughter, Patricia Morgan and her husband Stephen of Beverly Hills, FL; sons Timothy Chanowitz and his wife Kim of Wallkill, NY; Christopher Chanowitz and his wife Catherine of Milton, NY; Michael Chanowitz and his wife Ruth of Wallkill, NY; and daughter Marie Chanowitz, at home; his 14 grandchildren, Kyle, Tyler, Cheyenne, Ryan, Timothy Jr., Collin, Sarah Riley, Rachel, Taylor, Megan, Kayla, Sean, Jenna and Daniel; 3 step-grandchildren, Sarah, Ashley and Helena; one great-grandson, Tristan; and two great-granddaughters, Gianna and Khloe. Fritz is also survived by his beloved grand-cat, Mickey Mouse. The family would like to thank Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, especially Mickey and Lynn, two extraordinary people who took such great care of Dad this past year, and the VA for providing home health aides. The family would also like to thank Fr. (MAJ) Timothy Valentine (US Army Ret), Fr. (MAJ) Paul-Anthony Halladay, US Army, Fr. Patrick F. Healey, O.M.I., Fr. Ray Pavlick, Rev. Judy Ferguson, and Fr. (COL) Matthew Pawlikowski, USMA Installation Chaplain, for taking time out of their busy schedules to visit with Dad. And special thanks to Cheryl Vredenburg and Deacon Don Holter for bringing the Holy Eucharist to Dad these past few years. Visitation will be held from 2-4 & 6-8 pm on Tuesday, September 22 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave. Newburgh. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Wednesday, September 23 in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 145 Benkard Ave., Newburgh, NY. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery, New Windsor, NY, next to his beloved wife, with military honors. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Dad's memory to a veteran's group of one's choice. Replies to this post No replies yet |