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Greenbriar Healthcare Center hosts benefit dinner for fallen hero
By Bruce Walton
Boardman
The late Austintown firefighter John Fritz was a hero and a friend in the eyes of many, and that’s why Greenbriar Healthcare Center and Commons will host a spaghetti benefit dinner in his honor.
The event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at 8064 South Ave.
Jeanette Neal, director of public relations for the center, said she and other colleagues heard about the Fritz family’s loss and planned a benefit dinner a week after hearing the news.
“We want them to know that they’re not alone, that their community is going to surround them and keep them in our prayers,” she said.
In just three weeks, the center has gotten support from more than 10 local companies and organizations that provided food, event sponsorship and other items for the event.
Fritz, 48, was a Youngstown native, a 26-year veteran of the Austintown Fire Department and is remembered as a hard-working family man. Township firefighters found Fritz dead at Fire Station No. 1 after failing to respond to a fire call June 27. He leaves his wife, Karen (Bickle) Fritz, and his children, Ryley, Bailey, Halley, Kassidey and Owen.
The department’s assistant fire chief, Bob Williams, had known Fritz since he was a child. His death came as a shock to him and the rest of the department, who were like a second family to Fritz, Williams said.
“It was completely devastating; John was a good guy,” Williams said. “He would do anything for anybody, he was that kind of person.”
The event will provide spaghetti, salad and dessert with drinks. In addition to the food, the event also will have a number of prizes to raffle including several gift baskets and two $900 VIP tickets to singer Luke Bryan’s concert Aug. 12 at Blossom Music Center. All proceeds from the dinner will go to Fritz’s family
The dinner, Neal said, should be able to accommodate 300 to 400 guests and organizers hope to sell the same amount of tickets. Though they have no set goal to raise from this dinner, Neal said any amount would be ideal. Tickets for the benefit can be purchased at the Austintown Fire Department, Greenbriar Healthcare Center or Commons at Greenbrair. Tickets cost $8 for adults, $5 for children under 12 and free for children under three. Tickets can be purchased before the dinner or at the door.