Obituary

RODNEY “ROD” R. FITZ, AGE 69 OF MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA, SADLY PASSED AWAY ON MAY 11TH 2019 SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY AFTER SUFFERING A HEART ATTACK. ROD WAS BORN ON SEPTEMBER 11TH 1949 IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, THE SECOND SON TO RICHARD AND ELIZABETH.

ROD GRADUATED FROM DOMINGUEZ HIGH SCHOOL IN 1967 AND IN 1969, DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY DELAYING HIS COLLEGE EDUCATION. IN JANUARY OF 1970 THE ARMY SENT HIM TO GEORGIA FOR ADDITIONAL SCHOOLING WHERE HE AND HIS SWEETHEART ANDREA WILLIAMS OF GARDEN GROVE WERE MARRIED. HE WAS THEN SENT TO KOREA WHERE HE SERVED AS A TELETYPE RADIO OPERATOR WITH THE EIGHTH ARMY UNTIL HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE AS A SERGEANT IN MAY OF 1971.

IN 1978 ROD RECEIVED HIS DEGREE IN HORTICULTURE AT SADDLEBACK COLLEGE. HE STARTED UP A SUCCESSFUL LANDSCAPE BUSINESS IN SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY BUT DECIDED TO RETURN TO HIS PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT AT SADDLEBACK COLLEGE.

ROD WAS EMPLOYED WITH THE SADDLEBACK COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT FOR OVER THIRTY THREE YEARS AND RETIRED IN 2010. ROD ALWAYS WENT THE EXTRA MILE IN HIS JOB PERFORMANCE RECEIVING MANY DISTINGUISHED AWARDS AND NUMEROUS LETTERS OF RECOGNITION FROM HIS SUPERVISORS.

ROD LOVED ALL SPORTS BUT BASEBALL WAS HIS GAME. IN SCHOOL HE WAS QUICK, A GREAT HITTER AND RECOGNIZED AS A STAR PLAYER. ONE OF HIS PROUD MOMENTS WAS AN INVITATION TO TRY OUT FOR A PROFESSIONAL TEAM BUT WASN’T CHOSEN BECAUSE OF HIS HEIGHT. AS AN ADULT AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME HE PLAYED ON VARIOUS LEAGUES AND WAS A DEDICATED FAN OF THE LOS ANGELES ANGELS.

ROD LOVED FAMILY GET TOGETHERS HAVING THE BIGGEST SMILE AND HUGS WHENEVER HE ENTERED THE FRONT DOOR. HE LIT UP THE ROOM WITH HIS PRESENCE, QUICK HUMOR AND ENDLESS WIT. HE WAS EAGER TO HELP OUT WITH ANY SITUATION FOR BOTH FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH HIS COMPASSION, LOYALTY AND SOLID ADVICE. HE LOVED ANIMALS, VOLUNTEERED AT THE LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER, AND ADOPTED TWO CATS, “BARNEY” AND ” ALLIE-CAT”.

ROD IS SURVIVED AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY HIS SISTER IN-LAW, LANA FITZ, NIECE SUZANNE AND HUSBAND BERNARDO FITZ-GONZALEZ, NIECE DANIELLE AND HUSBAND THOMAS SANZI AND THEIR DAUGHTER CAMILLE, NEPHEW, MARK WAGNER AND WIFE AMBER, SISTER, CHERIE THOMAS, FRIENDS AND EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS. ROD WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS BROTHER, DENNIS FITZ, AND NIECE, GENA THOMAS.

WITH MUCH LOVE, WE SAY FAREWELL TO A TRULY GREAT MAN AND ASK FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS IN HIS JOURNEY IN HEAVEN. WE LOVE YOU ROD.