Title:Called to be…a trailblazer

Lynn Clinton Fritz (C’64, Parent’98, ’11, ’29)

Lynn Clinton Fritz began his business career at Fritz, a small customs brokerage in San Francisco, and grew it to be an international leader of logistics services with offices throughout the world. After selling to UPS in 2001, he and his wife, Anisya Fritz, founded Fritz Institute to apply his logistics expertise to the humanitarian sector. Fritz has served two terms on the Georgetown Board of Directors. He and his wife currently own Lynmar Estate, an ultra premium winery, vineyard and home to the annual Georgetown Wine Country event. 

 Find out how Fritz helps Georgetown become the university it’s called to be.

How did you find Georgetown?

Georgetown found me. I was all set to go to the University of California, Berkeley, but my father received a call in July from the president of my Jesuit high school, who had taken it upon himself to call Father Sellinger [the Dean of Georgetown College] and ask him to please consider offering me a seat in the upcoming freshman class. And after some discussion and many assurances of my worthiness, Fr. Sellinger agreed.

My father advised me that I should take advantage of this unique opportunity. I had never been to Georgetown or Washington, DC, but I agreed, packed up the following month, and drove east with my brother, who was heading to Dartmouth. He dropped me off at 37th and O Streets. I found a single apartment—currently Reading Room 413 in Old North—because I was the last guy in.

I saw Healy and Old North for the first time, the staircase where George Washington spoke from, and the Dahlgren Chapel—I drank it all in. I went to Gaston Hall and realized that I was a son of Georgetown. 

What made you reconnect to Georgetown?

[President Emeritus] Jack DeGioia asked me to join the Board of Directors. I hadn’t planned to be at Georgetown, but there I was, hopeful to promote the betterment of a wonderful institution which I highly regarded. 

One of the things I established is the Fritz Family Fellowship, which builds on expertise from across Tech & Society to cultivate the next generation of leaders with expertise in the social impacts of technology. It’s a growing body of people that I’m trying to make into a community. 

How did Georgetown shape your life?

Georgetown changed me. I found myself being far more independent, both in my thinking, as well as my ability to navigate the world. I was navigating the East Coast and learning to navigate a whole new sense of people. 

Georgetown [follows] a certain set of Jesuit values, not individual values. Georgetown truly did enable me to capture something that I hadn’t really understood before and that was something more than just the education and community of friends. That has driven me my whole life.

In recognition of his achievements and service, Fritz received the John Carroll Award in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 5, 2025. The John Carroll Award is named for Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in North America and founder of Georgetown University. Established in 1951, this award is conferred upon alumni whose achievements and record of service exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown and its founder.