Former Giants players attend benefit for Teaneck professor
On Monday, Nov. 10, the Metropolitan campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University hosted a benefit sports dinner for Richard Fritzky and his family at the George and Phyllis Rothman Center in Hackensack.
Fritzky, father of 12 children, president of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years, editor of Meadowlands USA and adjunct professor of history and literature at the Teaneck campus for 30 years, contracted a rare form of meningitis in October of 2005.
On Oct. 4, 2005, Fritzky began to feel what he thought was the onset of a flu. But by late that Tuesday afternoon, he was rushed to ICU at Morristown Memorial Hospital with a fever of more than 106 degrees. By Friday of that week, Fritzky had been diagnosed with Neisseria Meningitis, a rare and deadly form of the Meningococcal virus that wrecks havoc with almost every bodily system. His renal, respiratory and circulatory systems failed immediately.
Nearly every victim of Neisseria Meningitis dies within the first 24 hours, but not in the case of Richard Fritzky. After almost four months of being in a coma, Fritzky became conscious. For many months afterwards, Fritzky suffered from strokes and amputations, and had been hospitalized for 441 days. He lost his feet, legs, and a majority of his limbs, except for the stump of one-half of one finger. Yet after the 22 operations and kidney failure, Fritzky and his family are thankful that he has miraculously survived.
Former New York Giants players George Martin and Perry Williams, graduates of FDU, were approached to help organize this dinner, since Fritzky happens to be a devoted Giants fan. Martin was the captain of the 1986 Giants Super Bowl team, and Williams was the starting defensive back of both the first and second winning Giants Super Bowl teams. Martin and Williams commented that “Rich is one of us,” and were honored to co-host the event.
The evening featured an autograph and photo session of the team players, a live and silent auction, and a raffle. SGA President Brian Singleton attended the benefit dinner. He said, “It was great to see the past New York Giants players, even though I am a New England Patriot fan. It was a great event for Fairleigh Dickinson, and I hope more students are able to attend at any future benefit dinners.”
More than 500 people attended the dinner, which was co-sponsored by past and present members of the New York Giants football team. Most of the members who were present at the event represented each of the three winning Giants Super Bowl Championships. Current and past Giants players Brandon Jacobs, Chase Blackburn, OJ Anderson, Billy Ard, Steven Baker, Brad Benson, Harry Carson, Keith Hamilton, Lee Rouson, Odessa Turner, Perry Williams, Zeke Mowatt, Curtis McGriff, Roman Oben and George Martin all pledged their attendance and gave their support.
Fritzky continues to have many health challenges, but he is able to courageously strive in a world that has become physically challenging for him. He recently authored several books, and remains a parishioner at Blessed Kateri Roman Catholic Church in Sparta. Also, he is now the proprietor of his own motivational and public relations consultancy.
More than $28,000 was raised for the “Friends of Rich Fritzky” charitable trust fund, thanks to all who supported the dinner and the cause.
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