The Midwest U.S. electronic music community mourn the loss of a friend taken before his time. Chad Fitz of Cedar Rapids collective IowaTechno passed away of respiratory failure on the morning of April 20th, 2020.
Fitz had been tested for COVID-19 multiple times but repeatedly came up negative. According to his friend and fellow IowaTechno member Christopher Shepherd, he passed away from respiratory failure stemming from an influenza A infection at 6:41 AM on Monday at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Fitz suffered from granulomatosis with polyangiitis, which rendered him more susceptible to pneumonia.
“He spent most of his last days in the hospital alone due to COVID-19,” Shepherd told Selector via Messenger. “The hospital wasn’t allowing any visitors and I think that was the hardest part of it all, not being able to be there for him and knowing how he must’ve felt being all alone.”
Fitz was born and raised in Evansdale, Iowa where was living prior to being hospitalized. He was an avid camper and kayaker, among other outdoor activities. He and Shepherd became fast friends nine years ago over their shared love of music. The two of them got involved with IowaTechno at the same time by providing lighting to some of the collective’s early parties.
“Chad was just always there to support and push everyone to keep going even when things looked grim,” Shepherd said. “Always the first person on the dance floor and last one off.”
“I could count on him to step up to the plate at our parties and help with anything I asked of him,” wrote IowaTechno founder Patrick Blin in a Facebook post. “He would work the entire night just to make sure things were easier on me. He didn’t like to disappoint me. Chad, I just want you to know I was never disappointed in you.”
Chad Fitz is survived by his mother and father as well as his half brother. Blin has launched a GoFundMe page to help assist with their memorial and travel expenses.
Image Credit: IowaTechno
