Fritz Alfred Hegwein
06/30/1926 - 10/15/2021
On October 13th, 2021, just 4 months after his 95th birthday, Alfred F. (Fritz) Hegwein passed away quietly and peacefully at Tidewell Hospice of Venice, Florida.
Alfred was born in Munich, Germany on June 30th, 1926, to Johann and Ottilia (Kienburger) Hegwein. He was conscripted into the German Navy and later served in the First Marine Infantry on the Russian Front during World War Two. He was captured by the Scottish Highland Regiment and was a prisoner of war until 1945.
Alfred was born in Munich, Germany on June 30th, 1926, to Johann and Ottilia (Kienburger) Hegwein. He was conscripted into the German Navy and later served in the First Marine Infantry on the Russian Front during World War Two. He was captured by the Scottish Highland Regiment and was a prisoner of war until 1945.
On September 11th, 1955, he was united in marriage in Stockholm, Sweden, to Anna Ottilie Wichert. They then made their way to America on May 10th, 1957, aboard the SS Berlin.
Alfred embarked on a career in the Restaurant/Hospitality field, with stints at Lűchows in New York City, The Knickerbocker Country Club, and the Cherry Hills Country Club of Denver, Colorado, before settling in Sarasota, Florida. He was a very sought-after club Manager, guiding the operations of the Sarasota and Bird Key Yacht Clubs, before opening the University Club in 1970. “Fritz” then took over operations at the venerable Detroit Boat Club in 1981, pulling the club out of near bankruptcy.
Alfred finished his illustrious career at the Field Club of Sarasota; not one to sit still, he then spent 10 years at Bay Village Retirement Center, as dining room manager (in his 70’s) and counselor to all!
“Fritz” enjoyed music, particularly jazz and classical, and was the consummate expert on food and cooking, introducing unusual and novel cuisine to Sarasota. He had a great degree of empathy for those less fortunate; always willing to go the extra mile or lend a hand. In his later years, he discovered the computer and began to write his autobiography. After several years, a nearly 800-page tome emerged and was privately published for family and friends!
Alfred is survived by his wife Anna, his two sons Peter (Tallahassee) and Thomas Hegwein (Sarasota), his daughter Jennifer (Byrne)(Sarasota), his grandsons Karl Hegwein (Portland, OR) and Hunter Byrne (Sarasota), his granddaughter Natalie Hegwein (Sarasota), his brother Hans Hegwein (Germany), his daughter-in-law Cynthia Hegwein, and son-in-law Robert Byrne.
Alfred was preceded in death by his parents.
There will be a private Memorial Dinner in Sarasota in November.