Fritz Reuter Obituary

good bye my friend. I will miss you

Angela - please send me an email with your mailing address so I can send you all that I found from the violin photos - including one of your dad too dark to scan for emailing. I even found copies of the Chicago Tribune magazine that has a big story on him and Gunter from 1968

[email protected]

I was a patron of your store for many years - rented on and off for 8 years, and finally purchased a violin in 2009. I don't play as much as before but my violin is still one of my most prized possessions. Sorry for the late condolences, but know that you have made such an impact in the music community, and your work will live through many years and playing. RIP, and thank you for making such beautiful instruments that enabled people to turn their inner words into a communicable language.

Dear Reuter family...

It has been more than 50 years since, shortly after moving to Chicago after college graduation, I passed by the Howard Avenue shop where Gunther was working on a violin in the window. As a photographer and high school violinist, I was fascinated by the artistry - it was almost an organic process.

Fritz was a very educated and politically aware humanist - one who could discuss with respect those whose views and beliefs differed widely from his.

Today, I found a sheaf of the many photos I took in the shop over the next few years. I looked up the store to contact Fritz - and saw that he'd died.

Please accept my belated condolences.

I then sought a photo of Fritz - alas, only one very dark one was of Fritz. I will look through my negatives to see if I can find a better one.

Please feel free to contact me via my email address.

Mel Snyder
Stoneham, MA

It is a great loss to the string community and to the music world.He was the voice of sincerity, honesty and ethos in business practice .Fritz Reuter was unique in his ideas and adamant in his principles .My condolences to the family .

Dear Family of Fritz Reuter:
I drove past the lovely location of the store and saw it was vacant and wondered if something had happened. First, I used to pick up strings and rosin for my mother when you were located on Howard Street. After she no longer played, I cherished her violin and hoped to give it to the Sherwood School of Music but was told they had no students with the ability to play my mother's wonderful Rausch violin. I had Mr. Reuter repair it and took it to her in the nursing home but she could not remember fingering. After being turned down by Sherwood I sold it to Mr. Reuter. At the time he told me none of his sons wished to continue in the business and he would be retiring soon. I just now found the death notice and also one for I believe is his son. They will be together in that place called Heaven.
I offer my sympathy to the family and want you to know that more than anything else I remember, was the quiet dignity and gentleness of Mr. Reuter. I hope someone purchased my mother's violin and is enjoying it as much as she did. She studied with Heifetz for eight years.
Blessing to all of you and great peace.

Dear Mrs. Reuter and family,
Dear Gunther and family,
Dear Michael and family,

We wish to express our most sincere sympathy for the loss of your dear husband and father and brother. Fritz was a mentor to us, as was Gunther, and we relied on him for advise with any violin related questions. He was a truly kind and wise man. We have missed him since he retired and now will miss him very much. Thank you Fritz for all that you have contributed to the world of violins and music. We have known Fritz since 1980 and Gerry was his customer when he was a boy learning to play the violin. We thank God for bringing our paths together and for giving him to us as our mentor. We miss you Fritz and Gunther.

With Love,

Gerry and Jutta Field

Hello! We were saddened of our dear brothers death. And our love support and condolences are sent sincerely to your family. FRITZ had a role in our two children deciding to play the violin and they are quite good! In addition, our son and dear Late Noah were the same age. So the violin playing will help us remember fondly both FRITZ AND NOAH.In addition we had the pleasure to meet his son in law who sold us a car.. What a fine family you are! Mrs. REUTER please know you set a fine example as a wife and mother.. May you find comfort in the days ahead. So much love, SWIFT FAMILY.