June 13, 2024

Dear Claudia and all beloved ones of Fritz,
Our true condolences, you must miss him a lot.
In 2018 Fritz called me and asked if i wanted to speak on the famous Churchill cigar dinner. As a 4th generation of a good cigar brand in Holland, he asked me to tell something about our family company. It felt like an honor that he asked me.
We were sleeping at your house and had indeed a very good breakfast and very nice talks about everything including the politics. Fritz was a very good host. Offcourse i was a bit nervous about this speech but he took care about me.  That day was filled with humor and laughter. He let us feel like a big family. Fritz asked me to buy special clothes for the dinner. Off course i did. 
What a humor and daring idea of Fritz to ask a mystery guest with a red question mark. I was the lucky one to be that red question mark, the first woman that was allowed to attent this diner. It was fantastic evening to be with 160 man in black tie. Fritz but also Claudia thanks for this experience. 
Claudia i wish you a lot of strenght and love to deal with the big loss of Fritz. Take care. 
The lady in red. 
Binet Brasser van der Sluis

June 04, 2024

Dear Claudia & family,
What a tragic news… it’s now almost a month ago and it still feels the world is missing a lot.  
I am Fred, part of the Vandermarliere family and we’ve been active in cigars since 1926.  Fritz had contact with different people in our company; but also a close relationship with my father myself.  We met on every cigar meeting there was in the world ;-)… I had the honour to be speaker on the Churchill dinner too; an event that still exists thanks to him.  
He was very smart and sharp.  Even at 2am in the morning in Santiago after some whiskeys he could discuss complex files; not a lot of people can do that.
As in every relationship, we had our difficult times; but he always wanted to come to a solution when the dust settled down.
We were prepared to miss our dear friend in our industry as he would spend some more time with his family he loved so much… but we were not prepared to this.
let us enjoy a Fritzstick for many years to commonerate an icon in our industry!
Our sincerest condolences.  We hope you continue your life in the best way possible.  Always welcome in Belgium and Miami to gather souvenirs & keep him alive in our talks.
 
very warm regards,
Guido Vandermarliere
Fred & Annick Vandermarliere, Lucie, Maurice & Ernest
and all Cortesiens & people at Oliva Cigars, UTPSL, UTPDR, Hacienda d’Ernesto & Fumador

May 23, 2024

My sincere condolences to the family.
Having been active in the cigar industry for 31 years since 1992, first with Vandermarliere and then with Scandinavian Tobacco Group, I had the pleasure of meeting Fritz on several occasions. I will remember Fritz as a real professional but above all a nice gentleman, always in for a good advice and passing a nice evening, enjoying a good cigar.
Fritz will be very much missed in the cigar community.
Jan Craeynest

May 23, 2024

Dear Family Bossert,
I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Fritz. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this incredibly difficult time.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Jan van der Sluis 

May 22, 2024

Fritz was a fantastic human being and will be so missed. He was forward thinking and thoughtful when it came to both business and life. He was so proud of his family and had nothing, but wonderful things to say. He told me one time that he was fearful that in his retirement he would be forgotten,  but I think it’s clear he was an unforgettable person to so many. Thoughts and prayers to the family. 
Karen Hall

May 21, 2024

We came to know Fritz in the past few years because of our grandfather’s Lancaster County tobacco.  From the first day he visited with us to get some family history, Fritz was a gracious gentleman.   He invited us to several local cigar events and always made us feel welcome.  He even took us to visit our grandfather’s old property.  Although we didn’t know him for long, Fritz made quite an impression on us.  We are truly sorry to hear of his passing.
Lynn Balmer

May 21, 2024

Dear Claudia and family,
On behalf of our board of directors, staff team, and members of the Cigar Association of America and the Pipe Tobacco Council, please accept our deepest condolences during this incredibly difficult time. We are truly sorry about the passing of Fritz. It is incredibly hard to grasp that he is no longer with us. Fritz was an exceptional tobacco business leader, a dear friend to all, a mentor to many, and such a wonderfully generous member and friend to everyone within both associations for years. We will truly miss him. May you find strength and solace in the cherished memories you shared together, and may the love and support of those around you provide comfort. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dan Cotter

May 21, 2024

Dear Claudia and family, 
On behalf of Universal Leaf Tabacos – Brazil I would like to express our condolences to all of you. Is very difficult to believe that Fritz left us. He was not only an outstanding tobacco businessman, but a great human being, a kind and generous friend.  He was always available to share his experience and give us his input on our daily challenges.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Fritz will remain very alive in our memories and admiration. 
Cesar A. Bünecker

May 21, 2024

Liebe Claudia und Familie,
Es fällt mir schwer, die richtigen Worte zu finden. Fritz’ plötzlicher Tod macht mich sehr betroffen, auch weil ich in einem ähnlichen Alter bin. Auch mein bester Freund ist ziemlich genau am gleichen Tag vor einem Jahr im Alter von 66 Jahren im Mai plötzlich an einem Herzinfarkt verstorben. “Never take being alive for granted…”
Fritz war mehr als ein Geschäftfreund für mich. Seit meiner Arbeit im Tabak, beginnend im Jahr 2000, war Fritz einer meiner Mentoren für den Rohtabak und Ratgeber in vielen Lebenslagen. Ich erinnere mich gerne an unsere gemeinsamen Reisen nach Brasilien. Neben seinen herausragenden fachlichen Fähigkeiten war Fritz ein guter und hilfsbereiter Mensch, der mit beiden Beinen auf der Erde geblieben ist. Es ist sehr schade, dass Fritz nun nicht seiner Passion bei uns im Unternehmen weiter nachgehen kann. Wir werden ihn schmerzlich vermissen.
Ich wünsche euch allen viel Kraft, um mit dem Tod eines geliebten Menschen umgehen zu können. Mein herzliches Beileid.
Karlheinz Diekmann
 
 

May 20, 2024

Dear Claudia and Family,
We are so saddened and shocked to hear of the passing of our dear friend, Fritz. We know how happy and excited he was for the next chapter of his life. We mourn with you the passing of an amazing husband, father, grandpa and friend. Please accept our entire family’s sincerest condolences. We will miss him dearly. May God bless you and your family and comfort you during this most difficult time. 
With much love and respect,
Nick and Janine Perdomo & Family 

May 20, 2024

Liebe Claudia ,
“Jene die wir mögen, loszulassen, ist das Schwerste, was wir jemals tun werden.” 
Auf diesem Wege möchten wir Dir und Deiner ganzen Familie unser aufrichtiges Beileid
ausprechen. 
Ursula und Axel Kehrberger

May 20, 2024

Dear Claudia and family,
Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family during this difficult time.  Fritz was an amazing person, he was a shining light in so many lives. We will hold on to the wonderful memories we shared together.
May cherished moment, and memories of Fritz bring you and your family solace and strength in the days ahead. You are not alone in your grief.
We all will miss you, Fritz.  
Ernest Gocaj

May 20, 2024

Dear family,
Fritz’s passing has been such a devastating shock to all of us at the Universal family. It was always a pleasure spending time with him at our Board meetings and working with him and his team on our business relationships. He was a true gentleman and we all know how much his family meant to him. He will be missed by all in our industry and he leaves an incredible legacy.
I extend my deepest sympathy and continued prayers to all the family,
Clay Frazier 

May 18, 2024

Dear Claudia and family,On behalf of The Turrent family I would like to express our condolences to you all.I met Fritz on 1997 when I started working with tobacco in our family company.I really enjoyed and learned from him a lot. I really appreciate it.He was a great friend and better men.He rest in peace.I send you all a big hug.Sincerely,Miguel Turrent.

May 17, 2024

My sincere condolences to the family. Fritz was a real gentleman and a very good tobacco professional, he always found a way to make the deal and to make it work. He will be missed in the tobacco business and as a person. Rest in peace.
Benjamin Refuge

May 16, 2024

Dear Claudia and family,
It is nearly exactly 20 years ago that I met Fritz for the first time during the Sumatra inscription in Bremen June 2004. I was a newbie in the cigar tobacco world and very anxious about the outcome of the inscription. But that week in June 2004 during a barbeque organized by Gebrüder Kulenkampf, Fritz took me apart and told me that everything would come fine. We enjoyed that evening talking about tobacco and cigars with a good glass of wine and some good cigars. It is an evening that I will never forget, Fritz was so inspiring for me.
I had the pleasure of meeting Fritz on several occasions in Germany, Indonesia, Belgium and the Dominican Republic, always a gentleman in passion of his work.
The Cigar Family is losing a good friend.
My sincere condolences,
Henry Masquelin

May 16, 2024

I have know Fritz for many years and a great tobacco man, gentleman and friend has left us. RIP
Jeroen van der Lip

May 15, 2024

Claudia and Family – I am stunned and saddened at the loss of our dear friend and your dear husband and father.  I had the pleasure and honor of working with Fritz for more than 20 years.  We shared many laughs, discussed and solved difficult problems together and shared a strong mutual respect.  He was a class act and I know he loved his family very much.  We will miss him very much.
We will continue to cover your family in prayer during this difficult time.
Grace & Peace,
Mike Oberschmidt

May 15, 2024

DearClaudia and family, I was stunned and deeply saddened to learn of Fritz’s sudden passing. We became friends through the Churchill Society and while I only saw him once or twice a year, his friendship became very important to me. We shared a passion for family, cigars and motorcycles and talked about motorcycling together in retirement. I regret that I will not be able to experience that with Fritz. He, and you, Claudia, were always such gracious hosts to me when I came to Lancaster. I will miss that time with you both. I cannot imagine the depth of your grief but I wish for you and your family peace and comfort during this time.
David Madeira

May 15, 2024

Nancy and I share in your grief and offer our heartfelt condolences to you and your family.  Fritz was my friend and mentor.  We will be forever grateful of his presence in our lives.
Raul Perez