Fritz Karl Schroeder, CPO, Dies

A Grand Old Man of the orthotics and prosthetics profession died February 15 at the age of 91.

Born February 11, 1912, Fritz Karl Schroeder, CPO, began his orthopedics apprenticeship at age 14 in Köslin, Germany, in 1926. In May 1930 he received his journeyman certificate, and in August 1950, he was granted his Meister certificate.

In 1952 Mr. Schroeder was offered a job at Minneapolis Artificial Limb Company. After having lived through the tragedy of two world wars in his home country, he risked the considerable uncertainty of moving his family to the United States.

In 1953, he was granted Certification No. 332 by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC), and in 1955, his employer assigned him to manage a new facility at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

After the Rochester facility closed, he worked for Wisconsin Orthopedic Appliance, Green Bay.

In 1963 he returned to Minneapolis to work with John Hendrickson Sr. in developing the fledgling operation that was to become Otto Bock USA. He developed a central fabrication facility and a seminar program for educating practitioners in the use of Otto Bock products and methods.

"He was as comfortable with the new technologies of the day, such as myoelectrics and modular systems, as he was with carving wood sockets," said Patrick Conroy, senior technician, Otto Bock Technical Center, who trained under Mr. Schroeder. "As a teacher, Fritz was responsible for establishing traditions for which Otto Bock is still known," he added.

In 1977, Mr. Schroeder retired. "He was a tough taskmaster and perfectionist with a heart of gold and hands of an artist," said Conroy. "His concern for the care of patients and the education of those responsible for their care was obvious to those who knew him."

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Fritz Karl Schroeder, CPO, Dies

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