Dr. Frederic J. 'Fritz' Kottke

Kottke, Dr. Frederic ‘Fritz’ J. Passed away peacefully in Minneapolis on May 23, 2014 at the age of 96. Born in Hayfield, Minnesota, on May 26, 1917, Fritz grew up in Windom where his father was superintendent of schools. He attended the University of Minnesota for his undergraduate and graduate education, receiving his BS in 1939, his MS in 1941, his Ph.D. in physiology with a minor in pathology in 1944, and his MD in 1945. In 1946-47 he held the Baruch Fellowship in Physical Medicine. In 1941, he joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota in Physiology as an instructor. He was Assistant Professor (1947-49) and Associate Professor (1949-53) in Physical Medicine and Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. From 1949-52, he was the director of the Division of Physical Medicine, which was part of the Department of Radiology. In 1952, when the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was established, he was appointed its first head and remained so until his retirement in 1982. He was internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. His editorship of the Krusen Handbook of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has been a valued contribution to medical literature and to the specialty. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Astrid Erling Kottke, and a son, James Frederic Kottke. Survived by a sister, Harriet Sells, his daughters, Jane (Lau) de Vries, Mary Vincent, and a son, Thomas (Leslie) Kottke, 6 grandchildren and 5 great- grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Walker Methodist Home, 3737 Bryant Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN on Saturday, July 12 at 1 PM. Memorials to Habitat for Humanity.

Published on May 25, 2014