Birth date: Feb 19, 1947 Death date: Aug 3, 2025
John Frederick Abitz, 78, of Fort Myers FL, passed away on August 3, 2025. Born on February 19, 1947, in Milwaukee, WI, John was the only child of Fred and Lydia Abitz. He attended Wauwatosa High School, played French horn and pia Read Obituary
You are invited to view the memorial service for John Abitz at this link… https://iplayerhd.com/player/video/2e17b792-f719-4b71-8cb7-8b0ad918f03d/share
I will never forget walking down the stairs for my Jr. High choir try-out at Central Elementary in the spring of 1982 and meeting Mr. Abitz for the first time. He was as friendly as can be and took me through my little audition like a pro.
I loved being in his choir class. I’ll never forget when he rolled that VCR into choir class and showed us the video of Dave Bergman hitting 9 foul balls in a row before blasting a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9th during the spring start of the Tigers’ historic 1984 season. He thought we needed to see it, and I couldn’t believe there was a machine that recorded tv shows? Wait, this happened last night and you recorded it on that machine there…and now we’re watching it in choir?? This is incredible!
I could go on. He was just a friendly, stand-up, confident guy. He made choir something guys could feel like guys doing. He took us to Chicago. Plastered his room with positive thinking signs, taught us some great songs that I still sing today…40 years later (Sweet Gypsy Rose, One Voice, The Elements Song, The Gettysburg Address…I could go on and on). His daughter, Karen, was so lovely and sweet. His son was friendly and kind. He was just a wonderful man. Thanks so much for living a great life, sir. A life we can all learn from and be inspired by. Much love to the whole family.
#SteadyOn
Dan Flowers
Dan Flowers
John was such a great person to work with for years. His sense of humor will be missed. RIP my friend
One day we had gone to lunch and enough Chinese for five. In a state of food coma I told John of a place where meringue was a good five inches on both Lemon pie and coconut cream. We forced ourself to have desert. John was a stand up guy! A true friend. I will miss him, he was special
I can't begin to share all that your dad meant to me. I was doubly blessed to have him as a teacher in select choir and Gals and Pals, and as an MSVMA Honors Choir Director. I had such low self-esteem in middle school, but your dad gave me a reason to view myself as talented. I still remember the words of praise he wrote in my yearbook. It gave me hope for my future. I did end up being a choral music teacher, taking the place of Sally Bird at the high school. Everyone assumes she was my choral influence, but far more so was your dad. I often chose repertoire I loved from middle school to teach my freshman girls. Once I took a typical John Abitz a-tonal, tone clustery, a capella piece to festival as a young, baby teacher. The judges were amazed at the abilities of my high school students to perform such a difficult piece. I laughed inside, knowing we had performed the same piece equally as well in 7th grade! Unlike many choral teachers, your dad had zero ego. He loved TEACHING, not just performing. I was blessed to keep up with him from time to time. He also kept up with me throughout my career in education and then in politics. All who had him were truly blessed. I felt this to an infinite power. One of the tone clusters in the song I referenced chanted, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord with thanksgiving." I know your dad, ever faithful, is doing that right now.
I was in Davison Jr. High choirs with Mr. Abitz from 1974-1976. He made a lasting impression with his fun, care, talent, the music he chose and investing in our lives. I still can sing some of the songs today. The most “unique” … and never seen or heard again, was the wordless “clapping song” … with a whole piece composed of different sounds made with our hands and mouths. He genuinely seemed to care and I appreciated his Christian influence. Our condolences to his family. Thanks for posting his “home-going” and a bit more of his life.
The sounds this man had to endure during his time as a teacher. At one point we had to go in a room with him and sing the birthday song. When I was finished he asked if I had a cold. I did not have a cold. I still can't sing, but I still do, lol.
Had Mr. Abitz for homeroom back at DJH. Our name for field day was Abitz Rabitz. Rest in Peace.
