RICHARD FITZPATRICK (1944 - 2014)


Memorial Service

Tom Scott represented our great class and Larry Owen represented Cannon Club at Fitz's memorial service. Larry, in his role as a member of the Class Wellness/Caring Committee, coordinated their participation.

Tom wrote:

"There was a moving tribute to Fitz at the Presbyterian church in Rancho Santa Fe this afternoon. Under sparkling sunshine (of course--please send clouds) a piper piped the family in to join the 400 mourners/celebrants. Biblical passages were invoked; Hebrew prayers canted. Half a dozen tributes were read by medical colleagues, friends, and family. The mix of joy and wistfulness was just right to capture the pleasures, accomplishments, and values of a man much loved and respected. Fitz was mature in mind and spirit, but never sought maturity in his behavior. He enjoyed dress-up (the photo montage showed him in probably a dozen outlandish costumes), role-playing, and willingly opening himself to playful mockery.

Fitz endured a trying final decade with strength and humor. He played dermatologist to the end, one of his final acts being to admonish his nurse to get that mole checked out. Then Fitz checked out. His was a rich life on every dimension.

I took a selfie of Larry Owen and me at the event."



Turk Thacher:

To Betsy and the Fitzpatrick clan:

The Princeton University Class of 1966 is devastated to lose your Fitz. Through all the struggles of the past ten years he always seemed to emerge somewhat victorious with his swagger and incredible sense of humor intact. What a great man, great husband, great father, and great friend he has been. There will never be another like him. All who knew him loved him - many of us were blessed to have known him for some 52 years. Please know that our hearts and prayers are with you. Hugs to all."

Robert Kopf:

I didn't sleep well last night thinking of Fitz, but my sleeplessness did revive some memories. I really got to know Fitz well after we joined Cannon Club our sophomore year. My first Cannon Club memory was when Fitz challenged me to a wrestling match in the front hall of Cannon. He was stronger than I, but I ultimately pinned him. (I don't think he knew that I had wrestled in high school.) The wrestling did give me my first life lesson from Fitz. All the spectators of the match wanted Fitz to win. Lesson: likability is key. Fast forward to a cold February day at Princeton in our junior year. We were in our usual predicament of having no dates on the weekend. (Unlike, say, Bill Bethune or Frank Nuessle, we didn't always have women hanging all over us.) So, I got the brilliant idea of asking a Penn State girl, whom I had unceremoniously dumped my freshman year, to drive over to Princeton and to bring over a hot chick for my friend from Georgia. She agreed, but of course they never showed. On to Plan B. We bought a gallon of Piasano wine for 89 cents and consumed most of it. We then staggered down to Prospect Street and got into some fist fights with some strangers. It was actually a lot of fun. This began our Piasano wine tradition and presumably launched Fitz's second career as an oenology expert. By the time I reached my senior year it dawned on me that Fitz was considerably smarter than I. I had to study more than he, but he was considerate enough to not pressure me to play pool all the time. I believe that he had figured out that I needed to hit the books a bit. Fast forward to our 45th Princeton reunion. After the traditional glass of Piasano wine (it now costs $5.00 a bottle, but it still tastes like cow piss), Fitz, his lovely daughter, Maggi (a female Fitz completely), my wife and I crashed a performance of The Beach Boys and showed off our best Cannon dance steps. Sorry for the stream of consciousness stuff, but I wanted to pass on some memories. Fitz, R.I.P.

Garry Gilbert:

Bob, I have read your notes on Fitz - a one of a kind. I am sorry that I have not kept in better touch with you guys. I still think of that dinner at Turk's racquet club and a jug of Italian wine on the table. 

Please pass along to the other Cannon members my good thoughts of Fitz. Please take this as a compliment since I find it easier to communicate with you rather than the entire crew.

Frank Nussle: 

Bob, I so appreciate your remembrance of Fitz and think it was only your perception that the spectators wanted Fitz to win the wrestling match; they just wanted blood. And yes, Fitz did have a way about him.

It was wonderful that you are able come to Philly a few years ago when Turk hosted our little Fitz Roast as he was in town due to his responsibilities as a Board Member of the Wistar Institute; you would never know that Fitz was so very respected in his field from just hanging out with him. How could a guy that mumbles so, ever be understood? Yet through it all, people got his brilliance.

You also captured very well that Fitz was a hell-raiser right to the end a guy who just liked to have fun. Here is a picture of Fitz and Bets as the Captain America Couple. And another of Fitz and the rest of us at his roast Fitz with his ever present bottle of Piasano or whatever it is.

So let's all raise a glass to our newly departed friend, who is, no doubt, now mumbling at the pearly gates.