Frederick Joseph "Fritz" Konopik Jr., the retired general manager of Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard, died of complication from liver disease June 2 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. He was 85 and lived in Linthicum.
Born at his parents' home on Locust Street in Curtis Bay, he was the son of Agnes McGarrity Konopik, a homemaker, and Frederick Joseph Konopik Sr., a Coast Guard master ship fitter. He attended Benjamin Franklin Junior High School and was a 1947 graduate of Polytechnic Institute.
He attended the Johns Hopkins University and joined the Army. He was stationed in Germany and worked in military sports as a basketball referee. He later resumed his schooling and was a 1967 University of Baltimore graduate. He earned a bachelor's degree in industrial management and graduated with honors. He later taught business courses at the school. He had also studied at the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He met Betty Mae McCormick, who was working for Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., on a blind date at a dance at Riviera Beach Fire Hall. They married in 1957.
After his military service, Mr. Konopik became a civilian employee of the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard. In 1951, the year he came to Curtis Bay, he was a structural engineer. He later worked in naval architecture and industrial engineering.
In April 1990, the Coast Guard promoted Mr. Konopik to a GM-15. According to an article about him in a Coast Guard publication, his ranking was "the highest competitive grade level for civilian managers." The article also said "he was the first employee in the 91-year history of the yard to achieve this rank." He supervised legal issues, public relations and the equal employment opportunity section.
"He provided the continuity of knowledge of overall yard operations, an asset so vitally needed in any establishment where the top executive [a member of the Coast Guard] rotates every few years," the Coast Guard publication said.
The story said that Mr. Konopik was highly regarded for his corporate memory and that he had served under 15 commanding officers, advising them on budget, scheduling and management issues.
During his career, he received a presidential citation and eight performance awards. He retired in late 1990.
"Fritz was quick with a smile and offered a handshake to everyone he met," said his brother-in-law, Horton McCormick, who lives in Linthicum. "He was a social person who could start up a conversation with anyone about anything as if they had been friends for years. He was a raconteur. He loved social gatherings, Coast Guard picnics and golf tournaments. He genuinely embraced life."
Mr. Konopik was a contestant on an early television show, "So You Want to Be an Expert," hosted by then-Orioles announcer Bill Dyer. He won a black-and-white TV set and an ornamental belt by answering sports-related questions.
He later served on the state's Attorney Grievance Commission. He also raised funds for the Epilepsy Association of Maryland.
In retirement, Mr. Konopik expanded his golf playing and was a regular at the Fort Meade course. He also practiced and worked part time at the BWI driving range. He participated in charity events, including the old Rose Restaurant's annual muscular dystrophy golf tournament.
Family members said he enjoyed live band music and was an accomplished dancer. He and his wife often danced at church functions and at downtown hotels.
A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church, 6405 S. Orchard Road in Linthicum Heights. He was a founding member of the parish and was a member of its men's club.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years; two sons, Kevin Konopik of Dundalk and Kerry Konopik of Timonium; three daughters, Kathleen C. Konopik of Arbutus, Kelly C. James of Elkridge and Katherine "Katie" Gugerty of Baltimore; a sister, Barbara K. Shroff of Denver; and six grandchildren.