Paul Franklin Fritsch

Paul Franklin Fritsch passed away on September 16, 2026, at his home in Orangedale, St. Johns County, Florida. Paul was born on October 29, 1947 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Thomas Duval Fritsch, a Navy fighter pilot who served in multiple locations and on aircraft carriers in various theaters, and his mother, Elizabeth Jane Fritsch from Reading, Pennsylvania. In his early years, his father became a Navy flight instructor serving multiple US Naval bases across the United States which meant changing schools on a rapid basis. Only in his high school years did the family settle in Jacksonville where Paul attended Forest High School. He graduated with his B.A. from the University of Florida.

He had an early career with New York Life Insurance Company and later joined Saunders Pierce Trefry and Fritsch, a prominent insurance brokerage group in Jacksonville. In later years, he transitioned to real estate transactions negotiating office leasing with multiple major corporations on behalf of The Regency Group in Jacksonville and was acknowledged as Broker of the Year by the Jacksonville Commercial Brokers. After leaving The Regency Group, Paul transitioned to site selections for several corporations in Florida, the Southeast, and Texas. He retired in 2012.

Paul was a state championship racquetball player, a tennis player, a scuba diver, a quail and duck hunter, and raised and trained bird dogs. He loved good bourbon, a nice cigar, his friends, his many Porsches, his home in Orangedale (The Farm), his Wyoming Sheep Canyon home along the Big Horn River, and most of all, his wife Lynn. He will be missed by the many who loved him.

He is survived by his wife Lynn Pappas, who resides in Orangedale, and his sister Christina Fritsch, who resides in Barcelona, Spain.

As a result of the overwhelming response of friends and family who plan to attend Paul's memorial service at our home On October 25 we will be primarily out of doors with a large covered tent and on the covered porch and with available seating in the house. The weather looks to be potentially windy. You may wish to wear comfortable outdoor shoes and a light jacket. Parking will be on either side of the circular drive with signs to direct you and spacing so as to avoid blocking people. We need to keep the driveway open for the service trucks.

Thank you so very much for all your beautiful cards and calls. It has been a great comfort. I look forward to seeing you all.

Lynn.