Coach Fritz Wolff died Aug. 19 at the University of Michigan Medical Center due to complications following his recent diagnosis with cancer.
He was 76.
Wolff is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lynda; children, Michelle, Michael and Jeffery; and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were not available as of press time Thursday. Go to thecitizenonline.com for updates.
Wolff was a longtime coach and former Goodrich High School staff member who retired in 2005 after 42 years of teaching. He started teaching in Goodrich in 1963. He taught general math at the middle school level and physical education at both the middle school and high school, then went on to teach what he said was his forte for most of his teaching career? American history.
Wolff said in a 2005 interview with The Citizen it was important he taught ‘the human side of history ? not just facts. I incorporated that into whatever I taught.? He also taught geography, psychology, and sociology.
Wolff coached for 38 years in Goodrich, primarily in varsity football, including a stint as the Martians? head coach from 1981-83. He was also the head coach for the varsity boys? basketball team, and worked with the track team. Wolff also coached in Grand Blanc from 1985-88 and in Swartz Creek in 1989 before returning to the Goodrich sidelines.
In 1994 Coach Wolff was inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame with a 144-125-6 record. Coach Wolff continued to volunteer his time as a member of the varsity football coaching staff and his coaching career spanned 51 years with time at Swartz Creek, Grand Blanc and Goodrich. He was on the sidelines with current Martian Head Coach Tom Alward for more than 20 years.
Gerald Hughes, 88, coached football at Goodrich High School for 33 years from 1955-1986.
‘I had Fritz as a rookie coach in 1963,? said Hughes. ‘He came from a school in the southwest United States, he had just married Lynda, too, about that time. We were very good friends. Fritz took many things very seriously as a coach. I was a little bit more passive on the sidelines. But I understood Fritz as a coach. He was very helpful to the players and a very smart coach. At times Fritz had troubles with the football officials. It was simple’he was always right and they were wrong.?
‘He was a good teacher, strict, but very good on history to have on staff,? he said. ‘I was very fortunate to have him as one of my coaches.?
The Goodrich Area Schools issued a statement.
‘Coach Wolff was a mentor, confidant, and friend to countless student-athletes, coaches and fellow staff members. He always greeted his players with a hug and his passion for Goodrich Area Schools was unmatched, rarely did he miss an event. We ask that you keep Coach Wolff’s family in your thoughts during this time.?