Frederick "Fritz" Robert Massmann, a trainer with the New Jersey Nets when they were still known as the New York Nets, died of heart illness at his Babylon Village home on June 24, 2007. He was 80 years old.

Born March 2, 1927 in Verona, New Jersey to William H. and Margaret (McKean), he proudly served in the U.S. Navy on a destroyer in California from 1945 to 1947.

For 37 years he worked as a trainer on the professional, collegiate and high school levels. Before coming to the Nets in 1970, he worked with athletes at Columbia, Brown, Boston College, Iona and Iona Prep. He worked diligently with the Nets for 22 years and in 1984 was the first trainer ever to be enshrined in the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame.

Mr. Massmann was active in Babylon's American Legion Post #94, the National Trainers Association and was past president of the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association.

He leaves behind his wife, Jacqueline (Pinkham) of Babylon Village; his children: Michael and his wife Nancy of Kingston, Massachusetts, Brian of Babylon, Donald and his wife Holly of Babylon, Paul and his wife Cynthia of West Islip and Marcia Pescitelli and her husband Thomas of West Babylon; his grandchildren: Kerri Ann, Maureen, Michelle, Robert, Taylor, Erica, Kayla, Samantha and Melissa Massmann and Jessica and Patrick Pescitelli.

A prayer service was conducted by Rev. Mickey Bancroft at the Powell Funeral Home, Amityville, on June 26, 2007. Rev. Bancroft officiated a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Grace R.C. Church in West Babylon followed by interment in Pinelawn Memorial Park with Military Honors.