James "Fritz" Henry Aichele

In the early morning of December 14, 2016, James Henry Aichele, Jr., known as "Fritz" to all who knew him, passed away peacefully in his home in Canadys, SC, at the age of 65. He was born April 21, 1951 in Charleston, SC to James Henry Aichele and the late Mary McKagen Aichele. He is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra Judson Aichele of New Jersey; their three daughters: Christina Aichele Lindsay (Charles IV) of Indian Land, SC, Sarah Aichele Cassidy (Shawn) of Summerville, SC, and Nicolette Lynn Aichele Talbert (Patrick) of Raleigh, NC. He was the proud Papa to Abgail and Sophia Cassidy; James and Forrest Lindsay; and Jacob Aichele Talbert. He is also survived by his devoted siblings: sister, Linda Momeier (Tommy) of North Augusta, SC, brother, Eric Aichele, sister, Laura Wilson (Dr. William Wilson), and sister, Jeanne Jamme (Paul), all of Mt. Pleasant, as well as his aunts and many cousins.

Fritz, who was baptized at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in downtown Charleston, attended St. Andrews Elementary School and graduated from First Baptist Church School in downtown Charleston. He went on to receive his degree from his beloved Clemson University and was a proud Tiger fan until his death. Upon graduation, he became an original member of the South Carolina Coastal Council; he retired after 28 years of dedicated service after implementing the South Carolina Coastal Management Program. While working there, he met the daughter of a co-worker; more than 40 years later, he passed away with Sandy next to him.

Fritz, a third generation farmer, worked alongside his father after retirement as a co-owner of Maple Ridge Farm, a 42-acre, U-Pick fruit farm in Canadys which they cultivated in the 1980s. Maple Ridge was one of the original vendors at the Charleston Farmer's Market at Marion Square and the Mt. Pleasant market. The markets were a family affair as his daughters, and then granddaughters and siblings helped as well. The father and son team not only grew your standard Southern fruits such as peaches, blueberries and strawberries, but they led pioneering efforts which introduced, once thought un-regional, blackberries, Asian Pears and oranges to the Lowcountry.

Fritz's other passion was surfing, a trade he mastered as a young boy. Though he frequented Folly Beach, he preferred the nostalgia of the Isle of Palms, the waters in which he learned to surf while visiting his grandparent's beach house. For many years, before the crops came in, he took an annual, solo trip to Costa Rica, which offered more challenging waves for the seasoned surfer. But, it was back in the Lowcountry of the Carolinas where he always found the most joy; in the place he had always called, "home."

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Fritz's memory to the preservation of the Morris Island Light House at Save the Light, P.O. Box 106, Folly Beach, SC 29439-0106 or online at www.savethelight.org.

Services are private. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel.