In Memoriam Fritz Tepperwien, Co-Founder of SAM.I.

SAMARITAN INTERNATIONAL mourns the loss of its former president and co-founder Fritz Tepperwien. The long-time member of the state parliament of Bremen and, from 1992-2005, federal chairman of ASB Germany passed away on June 3, 2014. He was 77 years old.

The former president of SAMARITAN INTERNATIONAL and former federal chairman of ASB Germany, Fritz Tepperwien, passed away last Tuesday in Bremen, after long illness. Fritz Tepperwien was active within ASB Germany in voluntary as well as professional capacity for many years. „His death is a great loss for our association.“, says Knut Fleckenstein, president of SAMARITAN INTERNATIONAL. „Fritz Tepperwien has shaped ASB Germany on the state as well as on the federal level unlike anyone else.“

Fritz Tepperwien worked as a judicial officer. As chairman in honorary capacity he successfully build up and led ASB’s local association in the city-state of Bremen from 1969 to 1992. Still today, ASB Bremen is a forerunner in helping people with disabilities or mental illnesses. Also, ASB Bremen has been providing the rescue personnel for the rescue helicopter “Christoph 6” since 1971.

From 1973 to 1992, Fritz Tepperwien also was federal vice-chairman and from 1992 to 2005 federal chairman of ASB Germany. In this role, Fritz Tepperwien was committed to the expansion of cross-border cooperation and in 1994 he founded SAMARITAN INTERNATIONAL, the European network of Samaritan organisations, together with ASBÖ (Austria), DKFH (Denmark) and CB (France). From its foundation until 2005, he was the first president of SAM.I..

Knut Fleckenstein: “His great services will not be forgotten even after his death. We offer our deepest condolences to his family.”