Ph.D. Anatomy (University of Minnesota); M.Sc. Physiology, M.Sc. Nutrition, B.Sc. Chemistry (University of Illinois).

Passed away in his 85th year, surrounded by family on June 7, 2012 in Vancouver. Predeceased by sister Ruth Jakubauskas, lovingly remembered by Kirsten Friz, son Peter (Karen Munro), daughter Anna (Geoff Guy), grandchildren Owen and Miranda, as well as brother Dr. Ralph Friz, sister-in-law Donna Friz, brother-in-law Edward Jakubauskas, and many nieces and nephews.

Carl grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois, the middle child of three children. His father, Theodore Friz, was an electrician for the Chicago Commonwealth Edison Company. After high school, Carl entered active service in the U.S. Navy in July 1945, and was honourably discharged at the rank of Seaman 1st Class USNR in August 1946. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve officer until 1959, chief rank Lieutenant Commander.

Upon completion of his Ph.D. in 1959, Carl was a Fulbright Scholar at the Carlsberg Laboratory, Copenhagen, Denmark, where he embarked on research into biochemical studies of taxonomy and phylogeny of free-living amoeba, including isolation and analysis of their DNA, which would occupy his scientific curiosity during his career as an academic researcher. There Carl learned to speak Danish, and also met his wife Kirsten, who was a technician at the laboratory. They married and returned to the U.S., eventually moving to Vancouver in 1964, where Carl joined the Department of Anatomy at University of British Columbia. He retired as a full professor in 1993.

A passionate educator, Carl remained committed to teaching medical students at UBC as Professor Emeritus until 2003, including working closely with surgical and orthopedic residents. He also taught anatomy abroad at the National University of Singapore, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Carl was a life-long enthusiast and patron of the arts, known for his deep love of opera and Shakespeare. He was also a supporter of emerging theatre and performance, and held season's tickets at the Frederick Wood Theatre at UBC for 40 years. He had a surplus of energy, and was always active, cycling to work, jogging in the woods, or taking long walks. In his last years he could still be seen striding for miles through Pacific Spirit Park, undaunted by a hip replacement in 2011. His passion for life continued even with the onset of, and mercifully brief struggle with, pancreatic cancer. Special thanks to the nurses and staff at the Marion Hospice for their compassionate care.

A memorial will be held at 11am on Friday, June 29, 2012 in Vancouver at the Canadian Memorial Centre for Peace (1825 West 16th Avenue – at Burrard Street).

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the Canadian FOP Network or the International FOP Association. Both charities are dedicated to finding a cure for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), a rare genetic disorder which afflicts Carl's granddaughter Miranda.

-To give to the CFOPN, go to www.canadhelps.org, click on GivingPages, and type in Dr. Carl Friz. (Will provide receipt for Canadian tax-exemption).

-To donate to the IFOPA, go to www.ifopa.org and click on “How to Help”, then click on “Donate to the IFOPA", finally click on “Donate Now: Make a one-time or recurring gift through PayPal”. Under “Select campaign”, choose “In Memory of Dr. Carl Friz, grandfather of Miranda Friz”.  (Will provide receipt for U.S. tax exemption).