About our Nominee

As you can see from his name alone, Master Rev. Dr. Dennis Fitch is a highly accomplished man. He’s been living in the Gulf Breeze and Navarre area since 1972. He has multiple degrees and even a PHD.

On top of being a very successful man, Dennis is also a master of Kempo and knows many forms of martial arts including White Crane Tai Chi, after practicing it for 51 years. Among those martial arts disciplines, he is a black belt in Hapkido, Aikido, and Tang Soo Do. As if that’s not enough, he is even in the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame!

He even played for the Jets and also taught special forces personnel martial arts for 25 years. In college, he even played lacrosse. These are but a small portion of his many amazing achievements. He expressed a lot of love for the area. The pace and the people of the community is what he loves the most here.

Here is a look inside the life of Master Rev. Dr. Dennis Fitch.

 

Q & A

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career/owning your business?

A: I didn’t like working. I got a degree in finance. All the opportunities for finance were horrible. I worked on Wall Street for a year. I went through training and working. I took the train back to the suburbs. My brain was just fried. It didn’t motivate me. You’re throwing your life away if you don’t love what you do. So, I decided to work for myself. 

 

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

A: I have lived in Gulf Breeze since 1972.

Q: Who is the most interesting person/business owner you’ve met here in Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

A: Chip Holston.

 

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people? (Or someone starting their own business?)

A: You gotta love it. It’s not easy either. If you love it, you’re really not working and can easily put in a 12 hour day. 

 

Q: What current/former local business makes you the most nostalgic about (or what is most iconic in) Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

A: The old Dairy Queen in Proper. Every kid in my school had a part time job there. It was a meeting area for everyone to hang out at.

 

Q: Where do you see yourself (and your career/business) in 5 or 10 years?

A: Hopefully alive and still teaching.

 

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Gulf Breeze/Navarre, and what do you love there? (What is your favorite dish, and where do you get it?)

A: I love Peg Leg Pete’s in Pensacola Beach.

 

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?  And why?

A: I would go to the mountains in Montana. I haven’t seen everything in this country yet.

 

Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?

A: Jeremiah Johnson is my favorite and the first one I saw in theaters was The Guns of Navarone. 

 

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: I’m actually pretty comfortable. I’ve done so much, I’m happy with what I’ve done. 

 

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

A: I like the energy of the area.

 

Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch?  Why?

A: Jesus.

 

Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?

A: I’d like to see Brooks and Dunn, George Straight, and Vince Gill. As you can tell, I like country music.

 

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

A: I played for the Jets, have studied martial arts for 51 years,taught special forces for 25 years, and I played lacrosse in college. 

 

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

A: I think of warmth, peace, and love. 

 

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?

A: I would probably choose my wife, Patti Fitch. 

 

Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?

A: Housekeeper, because I don’t like housekeeping.  

 

In loving memory of Master Rev. Dr. Dennis Fitch. His birthday is May 24, 1948 and the day he was welcomed into Jesus’ loving arms was February 9th, 2021.

 

Be sure to check out what our other nominees had to say!