Fredrick Fritz Hagerman

Loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Fredrick Chauncey Hagerman passed away on October 30, 2013. Fritz, as he was known to colleagues and friends, was a revered teacher of countless undergraduate and graduate students at Ohio University, where he taught exercise physiology and anatomy from 1967 to 2001 and was named University Professor, the University’s award to recognize outstanding teaching, five times between 1973 and 1993. Fritz earned his BA in Physical Education from the University of Wisconsin at Lacrosse (then Lacrosse State University), and his PhD in Exercise Physiology from The Ohio State University. After being introduced to the sport of rowing as part of his postgraduate research at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, Fritz became an ardent student of the sport, and was a mainstay of the U.S. rowing program for close to 50 years. He pioneered new physiological testing and training techniques, and helped select and train every U.S. Olympic and U.S. world championship rowing team from 1972 through 2012. As part of the U.S. team, he attended 8 Olympics games and dozens of world rowing championships in venues around the world. His achievements over a lifetime of service earned him U.S. Rowing’s 2013 Jack Kelly award, recognizing “superior achievements in rowing, service to amateur athletics and success in a chosen profession, and honors a person who serves as an inspiration to American rowers.” A passionate and lifelong baseball enthusiast, Hagerman served as a fitness and training consultant to several professional baseball teams, and in recognition of his contributions was awarded with World Series rings from both the Cincinnati Reds and the Florida Marlins. Fritz also was an avid competitive runner who could often be seen on his beloved country roads of southeastern Ohio as he trained for marathons and road races. He competed in over a dozen marathons, and as a 45 year-old, he was one of the top 10 marathoners in the U.S., and held the age group national record (he would stress, for a single week) in the 10,000 meter road race category. With all of his success in the classroom and the training room, Fritz found his greatest joy in his family. He was the cherished husband of Marjorie for 53 years; the brother of Sam and Gene (“Topper”); the father of Kris, Erik, and Bonnie; the father-in-law of Marian and Marc; and the grandfather of Cole, Paige, Jake, and Alison. Fritz was happiest running, biking, and walking with loved ones. He relished a good game of Hearts, an afternoon with his Lionel trains, a dip in the pond, and a long meandering story told with gusto and humor. He was a figure larger than life, and will be dearly missed by all he touched. His presence and passion will live on, always. Arrangements will be managed by Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home in Athens, Ohio. A memorial celebration will be held at a later date, in the spring of 2014. In lieu of gifts or flowers, donations may be made to the Fritz Hagerman Memorial Fund, Ohio University Foundation, which can be reached at 800-592-3863 or giving@ohio.edu. You can leave a private message of sympathy or sign the online guestbook at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com.