Donald H. Fritts

Donald H. Fritts passed away peacefully at his home in Bakersfield on Thursday, May 4. A former publisher of The Bakersfield Californian, Don had been ill with Huntington's disease for many years. Don was born in San Francisco, California on November 25, 1936. He graduated from Burlingame High School, attended Menlo Junior College and graduated in 1958 from Stanford University, where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. During high school and college, he held a variety of summer jobs at The Californian. After college, he joined the army and later worked for a San Francisco department store. Don moved to Bakersfield in 1960 and became a sports writer for The Californian. He served in various positions at the newspaper and was named editor in 1966. While editor, he wrote a column called On the Fritts. He loved tennis, golf and water skiing behind the boat he owned with his brother Ted. In May 1970, Don was named general manager and publisher of The Californian. He and Ted later became co-publishers until Don retired in July 1991. Don contributed to many civic and charitable causes including the Florence Wheeler Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital, California State University Bakersfield, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Kern County Museum Foundation, Bakersfield College Technology Center and the Hereditary Disease Foundation. He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rotary Club of Bakersfield, Bakersfield Racquet Club, Stockdale Country Club, the Petroleum Club and Rio Bravo Resort tennis club. He is survived by his sister, Ginger Moorhouse; brother-in-law, John Moorhouse; nieces, Tracey Cowenhoven and Virginia Cowenhoven and nephew, Peter Cowenhoven and his wife, Anna. He is also survived by his long-time friend and caregiver, Fay Walters and her family. Special thanks to caregivers Roberta Pounds, Helen Wright and Pam Mullen. No services are planned. Donations in Don's memory may be made to California State University Bakersfield or the Kern County Museum Foundation. www.bakersfield.com/obits Donald">www.bakersfield.com/obits Donald H. Fritts Nov. 25, 1936 - May 4, 2006

Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 5/5/2006.