Area residents pay respects to fallen Austintown firefighter this evening

AUSTINTOWN

Nothing but hushed voices and the sound of sniffling echoed in the Fitch High School halls, which were overflowing with people waiting to pay their respects to their beloved “Fritzy.”

Township firefighters found Austintown firefighter John Fritz, 48, of Winslow Drive, Mineral Ridge, dead at Fire Station No. 1 after he did not respond to a fire call Monday morning.

Fritz’s cause of death has not been determined, but township officials suspect it was a heart attack.

Fritz was a 1986 Fitch graduate, a township firefighter since February 1992, and a fire instructor for Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield for many years.

Michelle Maglis dried her eyes and held her daughter Bella close as she walked away from the Fritz family during Friday evening calling hours.

Maglis said she helped coach Kassidey Fritz, his daughter, in cheerleading, and Bella was close with Halley, another daughter.

“I just know they have an angel watching over them, and they’re in our hearts,” Maglis said.

Read more remembrances in Saturday's Vindicator or on VIndy.com.