Frederic Edward Spreitzer, whose early working years as a Chicago lifeguard, bouncer, and bartender were a reassuring presence for countless lakefront swimmers and tavern patrons, died July 13, in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was 78.
Mr. Spreitzer had a varied work life with stints as a financial researcher, farmer, and delivery truck driver. This was in addition to his years of keeping the peace and bartending at Lincoln Avenue, Rush Street and Old Town taverns, and his earlier years of lifesaving at Chicago's Oak Street beach.
He spent most of his later working years at the Cook Country Highway Department. After retiring in 2014, he was easily recognizable for his daily attire of 'Farmer John' denim bib overalls and brightly colored railroad engineers' or welders' caps. Well over 6'6" and 280 lbs., he had grown weary of searching for clothes that fit a man of his size and heft.
But he seldom had to use that heft to keep the peace at taverns like Cassidy's, Oxford's, the Bratskeller, and Andy's Jazz Club. His openly friendly nature could disarm hostility all on its own.
At one point, Mr. Spreitzer actually was a farmer. In the late 1970s, he moved with his then-wife and young son to a 120-acre farm near Hartville, Missouri to raise milk cows and grow blackberries.
After returning to Chicago in 1981, Mr. Spreitzer became an owner of the Wrightwood Tap on the city's near north side.
Throughout his retirement years, cooking and barbequing were constant activities. He and his former wife hosted frequent dinners for Chicago friends and relatives. He often served as a barbeque chef for Eli's Cheesecakes, and for several years in the early 1990s, he helped make jumbalaya, pasta, and crawfish bread for the annual French Quarter Fest in New Orleans.
Mr. Spreitzer, the youngest son of a Chicago police officer, was raised in the city's Jefferson Park neighborhood. He held the regional Catholic High School League swimming championship for two years at St. George's Catholic High School in Evanston, and continued competitive swimming at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
Swimming, 80 laps several times a week, was an activity Mr. Spreitzer sustained until weeks before his death.
He is survived by his son Zachary (Annie) Spreitzer, and three grandsons, Winston, Eli, and Kai, all of Chicago; a brother Jim (Mary) Spreitzer, New Iberia, La., a sister, Mary Lee (Dennis) Spirek, Chesapeake, Va.; his former wife, Carol Anzai Spreitzer, Pottawatomie Park, In.; four nephews: Charlie Spreitzer, South Haven, Mi.; James Spirek, Columbia, S.C., John Spirek, Georgetown, Ky., Scott Spirek, Columbia, S.C.; five nieces , Jennifer Spreitzer, Bethesda, Md.; Sarah McCalla, Austin, Tx.; Amy Windsor, Lafayette, Louisiana; Ann Wierbinski, Chesapeake, Va., and Tricia Calvert, Bauford, S.C.; nine grand nieces, ten grand nephews, and many loving friends in Chicago, Il. and New Orleans, La.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Contributions should be directed to St. Francis Diner, 1201 Hopkins St., New Iberia, Louisiana, 70560. Mr. Spreitzer was a volunteer at the diner, which serves meals to the homeless and disadvantaged of Iberia Parish.
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2 Entries
We wish to express condolences on learning of Freddy's passing. We knew both Freddy and Carol because of George a Rush Street Bouncer at the same time. On behalf of ourselves and such other, same time, bouncers in this informal fraternity of peacemakers as Denny Kelly, Ronnie Scoles, Sky King and Dickie Steeter, some of us already gone before; "We'll see you later"
George and Grace Donlin
Other
July 23, 2021
R.I.P. Fred St.George Fellow Swim/Diver Don Verdon 1959
Donald Verdon
Friend
July 18, 2021
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