Robert Kent Fritz, 72, Was Known for Humor

Robert Kent Fritz died Sept. 20 following his battle with lung cancer and one week after his 72nd birthday. Born in Syracuse, N.Y., on Sept. 12, 1933, to Robert H. and Shirley N. Fritz, Kent left the gift of laughter as one of many legacies to his family and friends.

Kent was educated in the Syracuse public schools and attended Syracuse University before enlisting in the Army in 1951 during the Korean War. While in the service, Kent was a member of the Army Security Agency, later known as the National Security Agency.

After his discharge, Kent continued his education at University College in Syracuse, and soon thereafter was hired by I.B.M. Kent enjoyed a very successful 31-year career with the company that took him and his family to Jamestown, N.Y., Cinnaminson, N.J., and finally to Upper Montclair, N.J., where they made their home for 20 years.

Kent married the love of his life, Sally Anne Johnson, in Syracuse, N.Y., and together they raised four children, Sandra, Kevin, David and Scott.

Kent and Sally retired to Martha's Vineyard in 1987. After moving to the Vineyard, Kent kept busy with a variety of endeavors. Among them, he was a special officer for the Tisbury police department, security officer for the Harbor View Hotel and maintenance worker with his friend Donald Ben David at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. Kent was also a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs and served as the chairman of the board of trustees for several months before his illness. During this time, Kent spearheaded efforts to repair and paint the church and the adjacent hall.

Known across the Island for his humor and friendship, Kent was a man of simple pleasures. He loved his morning visits to Humphreys in North Tisbury for belly bombs, and each year waited in anticipation for the annual agricultural fair and his favorite cheeseburgers from the West Tisbury firefighters' booth. Sally and he also enjoyed their long, leisurely drives up-Island to treat themselves to hot fudge sundaes at the Galley in Menemsha.

Kent also looked forward to his yearly trips to his great-uncle's farm in upstate New York, a place he first visited as a young boy. He enjoyed gardening, reading, collecting baseball caps from anywhere and everywhere, and taking his beloved dog, Chelsea, on rides throughout the Island. Kent was also a Civil War buff and treasured a recent trip he and Sally took to Gettysburg, Pa. Kent was a member of the Trinity United Methodist choir and took great pride in being the only bass.

An avid sports fan, Kent introduced his family to his love of baseball, which began the first of many outings to Yankee Stadium. Thirty-five years later, on his 70th birthday, the family surprised Kent with a party in New Jersey and presented him with 25 tickets for the entire extended family to attend the next day's game at Yankee Stadium.

Kent is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sally Anne; his daughter, Sandra Joyce, and son in law, Michael E. Joyce Jr. of Edgartown; his son, Kevin, and daughter in law, Christi, of Orlando, Fla.; his son, David, of Tallmadge, Ohio; his son, Scott, and daughter in law, Stacy, of Verona, N.J., and his brother, Bruce Fritz, and sister in law, Elaine Jenkins, of Tryon, N.C.

Known affectionately as Pop-Pop Donut, Kent is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Kerry and Brendan Long, Nicholas, Wesley and Samantha Fritz and Ryan, Tyler and Sydney Fritz.

His funeral service will be held in the Trinity United Methodist Church, Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 1:30 p.m. Interment will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery on Pacific avenue in Oak Bluffs.

Visiting hours will be in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs, on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that donations in Kent's name be made to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, the Davenaport-Mugar Regional Cancer Center, 27 Park street, Hyannis, MA 02601 or the American Lung Association, 25 Spring street, Walpole, MA 02081.