William Frederick ‘Fritz’ Kussin Jr., 93
William Frederick “Fritz” Kussin Jr., a fifth-generation resident of Acton and a descendant of the Alcott family, died peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones, on August 27, 2026, at age 93.
Fritz was born January 29, 1933, and lived most of his life in his beloved hometown. He was a graduate of The Fenn School, Middlesex School, and Harvard College.
The son of William F. Kussin, and Louisa Alcott (Pratt) Kussin, Fritz was the great-grandson of Louisa May Alcott’s sister, Anna Alcott Pratt, the inspiration for the character Meg in “Little Women.”
At Harvard, Fritz met his future wife, Georgine (Gigi) Spencer Lord at a dance. It was love at first sight. “He was totally smitten with our mother,” said his children. “He was trying to be gallant and after the dance got her a cab to take her back to her school, but he didn’t have any money. She had to go into her dorm and ask the house mother for money to pay the driver. He still managed to win her heart.” Fritz and Gigi married in 1957.
After college, where he was in ROTC, Fritz served two years in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant and then enrolled in a management program with the department store JCPenney before returning to Acton in 1961 to help run the family business. Fritz’s mother and father owned The Acton Children’s Shop on Main Street.
Together, Fritz and Gigi took over The Children’s Shop/Kussin’s and owned it for the next 45 years. The store has been a beloved fixture in the town center for generations of families. Being in business with his wife never fazed Fritz. “We get along very well working together, which doesn’t always happen,” Fritz recalled for a Acton oral history interview in 1997. “We decided early on we would have our own respective areas of responsibility, and we don’t intrude on each other unless invited. It was a very happy time for us.”
Fritz and Gigi raised their family in Acton: son Karl and daughters Karen and Louisa. Fritz was known for his easy warmth and genuine interest in people. He seemed to know everyone in town and could often be found stopping to talk with friends, customers, and fellow merchants.
“Fritz just enjoyed people,” said Maynard Forbes, who owned the former West Acton 5 & 10 and remembered Fritz as a mentor to many local merchants. “Retail is people: the people that work for you and the people who you work for — your customers.”
In 2003, Gigi’s health began to fail, and a few years later, Louisa and her sister Karen took over Kussin’s and rebranded it Fritz & Gigi’s in honor of their parents. In 2006, Gigi passed away.
“My dad stayed and worked with us,” said Louisa and Karen. “He was in the office every day, and it was so much fun. After 45 years, we appreciated that he was able to step away emotionally. He answered all our questions and guided us but never told us what to do.” The sisters sold the business in 2016, and it continues today.
Fritz was an enthusiastic volunteer, serving on many town committees and in many capacities. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce and Acton’s Businessperson of the Year in 1996. He volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels and at Emerson Hospital, and for many years, he also delighted local families by playing Santa Claus at the town’s annual holiday tree lighting. In 2006, he was named Acton’s Honored Citizen.
He also served as a board member for many years at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, the former Alcott family home and museum. “Fritz was such a supporter,” said Orchard House Executive Director Jan Turnquist. “When I first came to Orchard House, it was a challenging time, because there were structural issues with the building and we needed millions of dollars for repairs. Raising funds for that was a challenge, but Fritz was always there. He had strong opinions but was also a very good listener.”
In 2007, Fritz married Allene Riley Froelich, an artist and educator who served on the board at Emerson Umbrella. They shared many happy years together until her death in 2020.
Throughout his life, Fritz remained deeply connected to Acton and took great pride in watching the town grow and change while retaining the character he had known since childhood. He believed strongly in the importance of community, service, and welcoming new people and ideas.
Later in life, Fritz formed a weekly men’s group that called themselves the WOCs (Wiley Old Codgers). “It was a chance to talk about anything you wanted,” said Forbes. “The pact was that anything that was talked about at the table stayed at the table.” The group is going strong and reflected one of Fritz’s greatest gifts: his ability to bring people together.
Most of all, Fritz is remembered for being generous and joyful. He was always willing to help someone in need and always wanted to make people laugh. And he was fiercely loyal to his family, championing his children and grandchildren in whatever they had passion for.
“He gave us the example of a life of service and unconditional love and support,” said his children. “We all parent in similar ways, and we offer his example to our kids.”
Fritz leaves behind his children Karl Kussin and his wife Sarah, Karen Stout and her husband Robert, and Louisa Yamartino and her husband Richard; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; as well as extended family and special friends.
He will be deeply missed by the many people whose lives he touched throughout his long and generous life.
A memorial service is planned for Friday, October 23, at 11 a.m. in the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, with a reception immediately following. Acton’s town flag will fly at half-staff on that day in recognition of Fritz’s selection as Acton’s Honored Citizen in 2006 and for his service in the U.S. Army.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Fritz’s honor to the Orchard House.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Acton. To share a memory or a condolence on his tribute page, visit DeeFuneralHome.com.
