Frederic "Fred" Russell DeWitt

“Well, that went fast.”

True to his word, those are the exact words Fred DeWitt wanted to kick things off. A man of quick wit, an inquisitive mind, and a legendary love for swearing, Fred passed away peacefully at home with his daughter by his side.

Born in Angola, Indiana on November 19, 1947, Fred was the first-born of 12 children to Russell and Jeane DeWitt. Being the oldest of such a massive crew required a certain level of grit and resilience—traits that served him well throughout his life, especially when he answered the call to serve his country. As a member of the U.S. Army’s 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (the “Blackhorse Regiment”), Fred deployed to Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, where he earned two Purple Hearts. The first he brought home; the second he did not, as that would have required filing paperwork, waiting in lines, and possessing an inordinate amount of patience—traits he never quite mastered.

Following his military service and his graduation from Wayne State University, Fred eventually found his way back to Petoskey, where he had previously graduated from St. Francis Xavier High School. He permanently resided in Petoskey for the last 5 decades, firmly believing there was no better place in the entire world. It was here that he truly indulged his greatest passion: golf. For Fred, golf wasn’t just a hobby; it was a source of joy, comfort, and identity. A golfer for over 60 years and a proud member of the Petoskey Bay View Country Club for nearly 47 years, his love for the game extended to the next generation. In 1998, he assisted in the establishment of the first Petoskey High School Girls' Golf Team, eventually becoming an active coach and mentor, while happily fulfilling his dream of having his daughter take up the game he loved so much.

When he wasn’t on the fairway, Fred exercised a voracious appetite for learning and reading. Books were his constant companions, alongside his late, beloved dog Dakota and his newfound cat, Bob. He was a science geek who could happily spend hours debating the inner workings of quantum mechanics or diving deep into the moral and ethical implications of AI. Remarkably, approximately 97% of Fred’s conversations began with the phrase, “Did you know…” Usually, we did not. Yet, whether they lived down the street or across the country, Fred’s lifelong friends always stayed in touch—mostly because no one wanted to miss out on his next great debate or legendary story.

Fred faced the end of his journey the same way he lived it: with total honesty, a sharp mind, and zero fear. He was never afraid of dying; instead, he looked back with immense gratitude, frequently stating that he had lived an amazing life—far more than he could have ever asked for. The running joke was that if we are given nine lives, Fred had used up all of his and somehow bartered for 9 more.

Above all else, Fred’s truest, most unwavering love was reserved for his family. He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer DeWitt McGuire; his son-in-law, Kyle McGuire; and his two cherished grandsons, Griffin Russell McGuire (7) and Reed McGuire (5), the latter of whom resembles his “Papa” to a T. Fred is also survived by eight of his siblings: Mark DeWitt (Kathleen), Thomas Michael DeWitt (Dianne), Cecilia Crouse, Laurence DeWitt (Lorna), Tim DeWitt (Colleen), Paul DeWitt, Susie Jones (Stephen), and Jim DeWitt (Karen). He now goes to join his parents, his sisters Janet Bourassa and Katherine Mary “Mary K” DeWitt, and his brother John DeWitt.

We are pretty sure Fred’s version of heaven consists of limitless golf courses, a pack of Marlboro cigarettes, and Bob Dylan blasting at full volume. We can only hope that wherever he is, the landscape transcends all the labels and debates we get so bogged down by here on Earth—and that he’s in a place where none of that matters, though he’s probably still trying to start an argument about it anyway.

Fred will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. A service will be held this Fall in Petoskey for friends and family to come share their favorite “Fred-isms” and memories.

Memorial contributions in loving memory of Fred may be made out to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.