Dr. David Friedel Fitchett passed away on June 20, 2026 in Albany, Oregon. Born on May 26, 1939 in Milford, Delaware, David was the el-dest of three children born to Laurence and Eleanor Fitchett. He attended high school in Milford, Delaware and at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. At Swarthmore College he was a McCabe Schol-ar then graduated from Jefferson Medical School. He did his orthopedic residency, after Vietnam, at the University of Colorado Medical Center and one year at the Fitzsimons Army Hospital treating soldiers from the Vietnam War. His early life was marked by a legacy of service, watching his father serve three years in WWII, which deeply influenced his own choice to serve two tours in the Vietnam War where he was a captain, serving at a Medical Civil Affairs Unit in Pleiku, and in a MASH Unit near Tuy Hoa on the South China Sea where he treated US and Vietnamese victims of the TET Offensive. In 1973 he joined an orthopedic practice in Albany, Oregon, where he raised five children. He will be remembered not only for his professional and civic contributions but for the remarkable character that endeared him to everyone he met. Described by classmates as a “grand canyon kind of guy,” David was loved for many reasons but his cheerful, thoughtful spirit, reassuring smile and infectious laugh that lit up the room, will stay with his family and friends. His life was a testament to resilience. He faced significant personal challenges, including a major stroke, hearing loss, and cancer, yet he met each with a determination to succeed and a refusal to let adversity dim his spirit. He was an avid outdoorsman: skulling, hiking, backpacking and bicycling, leading his family on many adventures. David led a vibrant life of community service and diverse hobbies, including cooking, photography, history, and poetry. He served on the board of the Albany Regional Museum and on many physician committees at Albany General Hospital. David embraced life fully. He held to the philosophy that joy is abundant and profoundly beautiful. He strived to hold that joy in his heart every day, sharing it with anyone nearby. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, a gentle soul committed to his community, and a family he loved beyond measure, inspiring others to continue their own journeys with the same grace and joy. David is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marilyn Kirsch, his daughter Caroline, sons Jonathan, Tory and Matthew, daughter-in-law Cassady Thomas, granddaughters Arden and Hadley and his sister and brother-in-law Peggy and Tom Kahan. He is preceded in death by his son, David Arthur Fitchett, his brother Laurence (Larry) Fitchett, and his parents. A celebration of life was held at 11:30am on Saturday, September 12th at the Spring Hill Golf Club, 155 NW Country Club Lane, Albany, Oregon. RSVP’s to celebrating-dave@gmail.com appre-ciated. Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Food Pantry at 1910 34th Ave. SE, Albany, OR 97322.