It was announced today at the weekly lunch meeting of Medford Linebackers that Fitz Brewer had passed away early this morning. Linebackers is a booster organization for high school sports in Medford and Fitz was, it's fair to say, its most enthusiastic member.Fitz never lost an opportunity to speak positively about high school sports and about his Black Tornado. But Fitz also loved the Oregon Ducks!
To generations of Southern Oregonians, and particularly many many local media reporters over the years, Fitz was the number one Duck fan in Southern Oregon who was always available for a quote, and often a humorous spiritual message about the importance of being a Duck. If there ever was a Duck 24 / 7, it has been Fitz. He was also a generous supporter of the Duck Athletic fund.
Fitz played football for the Medford Black Tornado and after graduation from Medford High school in 1949 Fitz went to the University of Oregon and played football for the Ducks. Fitz never let anyone ever forget those facts! Upon graduation from the University of Oregon, in 1953 he served as a first lieutenant in the Army artillery during the Korean War.In 1968, Fitz opened a branch of the Portland-based Atkinson & Company in Medford and operated the location alone for more than twenty years, building a reputation for his expertise in conservative corporate and municipal bonds and in local securities.
Fitz has served on the Boards of the University of Oregon Foundation and the Rogue Valley Medical Center Foundation, and is a past president of the University of Oregon Alumni Association.He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and a long-time member of the Medford Linebackers, the Elks Lodge, the Medford Rotary Club, the Masonic Lodge and Hillah Temple Shrine. He was one of the founders of the Oregon Club of Southern Oregon.
A lifetime resident of Medford, Fitz and his wife of 49 years, Ann, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
Fitz has given much to this community, in volunteer time, money, enthusiasm, boosterism, arm twisting, and positive attitude. He has been more than a Tornado and a Duck.
On a personal note the meetings of the Oregon Club of Southern Oregon will be a duller place without his presence. He could light up a room with his stories and enthusiasm for the Ducks.
As a friend wrote in an email today "As Fitz steps inside the gates of Heaven, you can be guaranteed that God will hear about a team other than Notre Dame."
(Click on the title for a link to an official Oregon archives photo of Fitz playing football for the Ducks with Delmer Clemens.... grandfather to Kellen.)
Condolences to his family and friends.
Fitz always had good seats at Oregon Games but this Halloween night against U$C he will have the best seat in the house. The Ducks lost a very good friend today.
(Some of the information in this post is taken from emails I have received from some of his many friends.)
