† Mourning the Loss of Fritz Schramma, Long-Time President of the DGfdB

(eap) The leisure industry is mourning the loss of Dr. h.c. Fritz Schramma, long-time President of the German Association for the Bathing Industry (DGfdB) and cooperation partner of the European Waterpark Association (EWA), who passed away this past Monday at the age of 78 following a serious illness. Schramma served as Lord Mayor of the City of Cologne for nine years and, prior to that, worked as a teacher for almost 28 years.

“Dr. h.c. Fritz Schramma, in his role as President of the German Association for the Recreational and Medicinal Bath Industry, played a major role in promoting and shaping the cooperation with the European Waterpark Association and was a passionate advocate for public swimming pools. He was a warm-hearted person with a great sense of humor. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who accompanied him throughout his life, not only within the swimming pool industry, who are mourning alongside his family and friends,” said Dr. Klaus Batz, Managing Director of the European waterpark association, expressing his condolences.

It was only in April of this year that Fritz Schramma stepped down as President of the DGfdB. He had held this honorary position for more than 15 years – a period during which the swimming pool industry faced major challenges arising from developments such as rising energy prices, staff shortages and the Covid-19 pandemic. Schramma also played an important part in addressing these challenges together with professionals and executives from the swimming pool and leisure industries. Christian Mankel, Managing Director of the DGfdB since 2021, commented on Schramma’s passing: “It was a great personal honor for me to have worked so closely with Fritz for more than five and a half years. The German Association for the Bathing Industry and Bäderallianz Deutschland will always hold him and his commitment in the highest esteem and fondest memory.”

The swimming pool and leisure industries are mourning the loss of a dedicated and open-hearted individual whose work has left a lasting mark. ■