A legend departs. Genie Fritz passed away at her abode in Dallas on December 3, 2024, at the age of 100 — a fantastic century of a woman who impacted the world in profound and meaningful ways. Few of us in Texas, especially those dedicated to the environment and human rights, have been untouched by Genie. Words cannot begin to describe the gratitude we feel for her life. Her impressive achievements in social justice, racial outreach, women’s rights, and defense of nature touched us all.
Genie and our venerable environmentalist Ned Fritz raised four astounding daughters as creative and intelligent as they— Eileen, Gayle, Judy, and Linda — at their well-known house on Cochran Chapel Rd. The couple had many epic adventures in their courtship and early marriage, and they continued the tradition as a family. Cross-continental journeys, summers in the Colorado Rockies, visits to Washington, DC and other bastions of democracy, and more — always with singalongs in the car. She leaves behind her daughters, their spouses, and a plethora of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
But the following litany of leadership doesn’t fully capture the vibrancy of Genie. She had a huge heart, boundless compassion, and deep integrity, and could be funny, tart, and most delectably feisty. She radiated a grounded power, and her intellect was undeniably impressive. You felt fortunate if she called you a friend.
Even while juggling shared child-rearing chores and household tasks, Genie found time to make her mark in the League of Women Voters, holding board positions with the Dallas chapter and Texas organization. As secretary of the Overseas Education Fund of the League of Women Voters, she brought the message of democracy to women across Latin America, using her vast knowledge of the region as a child of diplomats and her degree from the UT Institute for Latin American Studies. She received the Virginia Macdonald Leadership Award from Dallas LWV for these actions and more.
After important work at Cochran Chapel United Methodist for fair and equal housing, Genie immersed herself in the activism community of First Unitarian Church of Dallas. She helped develop its Social Action Council, serving in leadership and board positions, and made a similar impact in the venerable Women’s Day Alliance. She co-established the Greater Dallas Housing Opportunity Center and served as its first president.
Defending the rights and raising the opportunities for girls and women was at the core of Genie. She led two Girl Scout troops joyfully, serving as a fearless example of ethics and integrity to a generation of girls. She brought deep knowledge as a Tejas Girl Scout Council board member. To ensure these girls, including her daughters, had the resources to encourage their dreams, she worked with great determination for legal changes enabling women to buy property and hold bank and credit accounts in their own names, not their husbands’ or fathers’. When banks proved reticent, she helped found and served for a time as a president of the Women’s Southwest Federal Credit Union.
Genie and Ned shared a deep love and concern for nature, and she made possible Ned’s extraordinary eco endeavors as Texas’ leading environmentalist-lawyer. She edited and typed his thousands of letters, newsletters, and documents, including the influential Texas Natural Areas Survey and several important books. Once Ned retired to focus on environmental campaigns, Genie generously set aside her important civic work to support him.
Genie and Ned co-founded two of the state’s most consequential nature defenders. The Texas Committee on Natural Resources, now known as the Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA), is still going strong after 50 years and remains an extremely influential environmental group. The Natural Areas Preservation Association, a land trust now known as Texas Land Conservancy (TLC), started with a hundred-acre purchase by them and now protects over 150,000 acres. Genie held TLC board positions for decades.
After Ned passed, North Texas Master Naturalists bestowed on her the title of Honorary Texas Master Naturalist and created a special recognition for her, the Dragonfly Award. The couple was honored with the naming of Ned and Genie Fritz Texas Buckeye Trail by Dallas City Council proclamation.
Genie Fritz — intensely appreciated and never to be forgotten. For the dates and details of her life, please visit Genie’s Legacy List at Ned Fritz Legacy.
Donations in her honor may be made to:
Volunteer in her honor with the Ned & Genie Fritz Texas Buckeye Trail Restoration Team.
A family obit is here. A memorial service will be held on January 11 Saturday at First Unitarian of Dallas.
By Amy Martin with assist from the Fritz daughters. Photos by Carrol Mayhew, Bud Melton, Scooter Smith, and more.
