1922
Edward
2014
Edward J. FitzPatrick
March 27, 1922 — July 27, 2014
Wareham – Mr. Edward J. FitzPatrick, Jr., of Wareham, formerly of Newton, died Sunday, July 27, 2014 at Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion. He was 92.
Ed was born on March 27, 1922 at Chelsea Memorial Hospital, the only son of the late Edward J., Sr. and Alice M. (Reilly) FitzPatrick and grew up in the Orient Heights section of East Boston.
He attended English High School and graduated in 1939. After that Ed enrolled in the New England Conservatory in Boston to study music. With the onset of World War II Ed left school in 1942 to enlist with the United States Army Air Corps.
While still in the service he met and married his sweetheart, Purdy, Missouri native Thelma E. Shepherd, on February 18, 1945 in Colorado Springs, Colorado where Ed was then stationed. Following his discharge from the Air Corps in 1946 Ed returned to civilian life, going back to school earning a bachelor's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1948.
After that he became a music teacher in Tappan, New York while studying for his master's degree from Columbia University Teachers College in 1949.
Ed's teaching career brought him to Bessemer High School in Bessemer, Alabama before he took a job that returned him to Boston at State Teachers College which later changed its name to Boston State College. By then a professor of music he taught at Boston State from 1953 to 1982 when the school merged with the University of Massachusetts. He earned a doctorate in the subject in 1963.
His last seven years of academia were spent teaching at UMass Dartmouth until his retirement in 1989. He also taught at Newton College of the Sacred Heart.
Always looking to stay busy and being a lifelong learner and adventurer he continued to teach voluntarily at UMass following his retirement. He taught a semester in Brazil in 1981 and also taught music appreciation to inmates at Bridgewater State Prison.
He loved the piano and played magnificently. He was involved in the musical productions at Boston State for many years and would play at many and varied functions.
He was involved with Mount Alvernia School in Newton where his five daughters attended. He would give concerts for the Sisters and the students and was always encouraging the expansion of the music program. He was one of the first to receive the Elizabeth Hayes Medal from Mount Alvernia.
Ed was also a longtime patron of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was very involved with the Knights of Columbus as a member of the 3rd Degree knights and was the faithful navigator of the 4th Degree knights for many years.
Ed and Thelma were Newton residents for forty-seven years and had been married for fifty-two years until Thelma's death on December 18, 1997. They were longtime parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in Newton Centre.
He leaves his children, Steven FitzPatrick and his wife, Jackie, of Prescott, Arizona, Kathleen FitzPatrick of Auburndale, Eileen FitzPatrick and Patricia FitzPatrick, both of Wareham, Terry DeLorenzo of Lake Forest, California, Connie Braceland and her husband, Timothy, of Waltham, Daniel FitzPatrick and his wife, Mary, of Mission Viejo, California and Michael FitzPatrick and his wife, Candy, of Cooper Landing, Alaska; his grandchildren, Alison Rodgers, Megan Turner, Ryan FitzPatrick, Cristina DeLorenzo, Pamela DeLorenzo, Joey DeLorenzo and Sean and Brian FitzPatrick; his great-granddaughter, Emelia Turner and his son-in-law, Joe DeLorenzo of Silverado, California.
Ed was also the father of the late Richard FitzPatrick and grandfather of the late Elizabeth FitzPatrick.
Family and friends will honor and remember Ed's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, August 8th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday morning, August 9th before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 1321 Centre Street, Newton where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Committal services will be held on Tuesday, August 12th at 11 a.m. in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Memorial donations may be made to Boston Children's Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215.
Ed was born on March 27, 1922 at Chelsea Memorial Hospital, the only son of the late Edward J., Sr. and Alice M. (Reilly) FitzPatrick and grew up in the Orient Heights section of East Boston.
He attended English High School and graduated in 1939. After that Ed enrolled in the New England Conservatory in Boston to study music. With the onset of World War II Ed left school in 1942 to enlist with the United States Army Air Corps.
While still in the service he met and married his sweetheart, Purdy, Missouri native Thelma E. Shepherd, on February 18, 1945 in Colorado Springs, Colorado where Ed was then stationed. Following his discharge from the Air Corps in 1946 Ed returned to civilian life, going back to school earning a bachelor's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1948.
After that he became a music teacher in Tappan, New York while studying for his master's degree from Columbia University Teachers College in 1949.
Ed's teaching career brought him to Bessemer High School in Bessemer, Alabama before he took a job that returned him to Boston at State Teachers College which later changed its name to Boston State College. By then a professor of music he taught at Boston State from 1953 to 1982 when the school merged with the University of Massachusetts. He earned a doctorate in the subject in 1963.
His last seven years of academia were spent teaching at UMass Dartmouth until his retirement in 1989. He also taught at Newton College of the Sacred Heart.
Always looking to stay busy and being a lifelong learner and adventurer he continued to teach voluntarily at UMass following his retirement. He taught a semester in Brazil in 1981 and also taught music appreciation to inmates at Bridgewater State Prison.
He loved the piano and played magnificently. He was involved in the musical productions at Boston State for many years and would play at many and varied functions.
He was involved with Mount Alvernia School in Newton where his five daughters attended. He would give concerts for the Sisters and the students and was always encouraging the expansion of the music program. He was one of the first to receive the Elizabeth Hayes Medal from Mount Alvernia.
Ed was also a longtime patron of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was very involved with the Knights of Columbus as a member of the 3rd Degree knights and was the faithful navigator of the 4th Degree knights for many years.
Ed and Thelma were Newton residents for forty-seven years and had been married for fifty-two years until Thelma's death on December 18, 1997. They were longtime parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in Newton Centre.
He leaves his children, Steven FitzPatrick and his wife, Jackie, of Prescott, Arizona, Kathleen FitzPatrick of Auburndale, Eileen FitzPatrick and Patricia FitzPatrick, both of Wareham, Terry DeLorenzo of Lake Forest, California, Connie Braceland and her husband, Timothy, of Waltham, Daniel FitzPatrick and his wife, Mary, of Mission Viejo, California and Michael FitzPatrick and his wife, Candy, of Cooper Landing, Alaska; his grandchildren, Alison Rodgers, Megan Turner, Ryan FitzPatrick, Cristina DeLorenzo, Pamela DeLorenzo, Joey DeLorenzo and Sean and Brian FitzPatrick; his great-granddaughter, Emelia Turner and his son-in-law, Joe DeLorenzo of Silverado, California.
Ed was also the father of the late Richard FitzPatrick and grandfather of the late Elizabeth FitzPatrick.
Family and friends will honor and remember Ed's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, August 8th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday morning, August 9th before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 1321 Centre Street, Newton where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Committal services will be held on Tuesday, August 12th at 11 a.m. in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Memorial donations may be made to Boston Children's Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215.
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