Bruno Fabel Fritschi,

A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, pioneer in forestry, a steward of natural resources passed away on September 6, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was born into a German-speaking household in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1944. He was the youngest of Hans and Ruth Fritschi’s four children and an early inheritor of his father's entrepreneurial spirit. He was imbued with an abiding love for the natural world—a love that led him to a groundbreaking career in forestry, earning him recognition such as the Hancock Timber Resource Group Stewardship award for client service in 1994 and being named an Honor Alumnus by Colorado State University in 1996.

Bruno's life journey was as multifaceted as the forests he worked to manage. He met the love of his life, Ouida, during his college days at Colorado State University on a blind date. Their love story was only briefly interrupted by Bruno’s service as a military police soldier (MP) in the U.S. Army. This experience placed him on assignment in Washington, DC during the riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. plus two additional trips to provide security at the March on the Pentagon and for Nixon’s inauguration. Upon his return, Bruno and Ouida were married and raised three children, Jennifer, Michael, and Victoria, in Homewood, Alabama. Ouida became a respected community activist and culinary expert, while Bruno was known for his unwavering commitment to family, always home for dinner by 6 p.m. despite his demanding work schedule.

Professionally, Bruno's impact was significant. He rose to become the third president of Resource Management Service LLC (RMS), an organization in which he initially caught the eye of the co-founder Harry Murphy during a college field trip. Bruno was part of an exceptional team that not only propelled RMS to historic peaks in the mid-1990s but also innovatively re-engineered the company for the demands of the 21st century. His leadership as President and CEO for 15 years was marked by numerous accomplishments, including facilitating the biggest-ever sale of U.S. forest land.

But for all his professional accolades, Bruno never lost sight of what mattered most. His children remember him as an ever-present father who would drop anything to spend time with them. His grandchildren were the joy of his later years. He was not only a steward of forests, but also a steward of familial bonds, nurturing both with a rare combination of dedication and love. This is evident by a comment from a former RMS colleague who shared, “...you were the reason that RMS was like a family. As the head of our family you made the tough decisions but still showed understanding and compassion to all.”

Bruno was quietly generous and remarkably kind and thoughtful. His selflessness and empathy for others were just a few of the attributes that drew people to him. He was exacting and intentional; his character and integrity were beyond reproach.

Bruno was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Ouida (Gowdy) Fritschi, and his siblings Hans and Carl. He leaves his three children: Jennifer Fritschi (Deborah Hooker) of Washington, D.C., Michael (Beth) Fritschi of Hoover, Alabama and Victoria (Michael) Dinges of Homewood, Alabama, as well as five grandchildren, Anna and Adam Fritschi and Eliot, Arlo and Scarlet Dinges. He is also survived by his sister Vicky Fritschi of Homewood, Alabama, brother-in-law Tom (Mary Pat) Gowdy, of Seminole, Florida, and three sisters-in-law Nannene Gowdy (Carl Schilling) of Acton, Massachusetts, Carla Gowdy of Los Gatos, California and Abbie Gowdy-Chase (Peter Chase) of Westmore, Vermont, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Donations may be made in Bruno’s name to either the Parkinson’s Association of Alabama at http://www.parkinsonalabama.com or to the Colorado State University Warner College of Natural Resources at http://www.warnercnr.colostate.edu. (Choose "Make A Gift" tab at the bottom right corner of the page).

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/homewood-al/bruno-fritschi-11446236