James J Fitzpatrick

James Fitzpatrick, age 71, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday August 12, 2020

.

Jim was born in Manhattan and was the oldest of four children to James and Margaret Fitzpatrick.  He attended St. Elizabeth grammar school and served as an altar boy at St. Elizabeth Church.   Jim was a Boy Scout and eventually earned the title of Eagle Scout.  He attended Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, NY.  After his high school graduation, he attended Manhattan College where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Environmental Science.   Jim moved to New Jersey and accepted a position with Hydro Science located in Mahwah, NJ, which became Hydro Qual and eventually HDR Inc.  His career with them spanned 50 years.

Jim was a lifelong fan of the Fighting Irish and the Dodgers.  He became an avid skier, traveling to destinations all over Europe, the United States, and Canada to test his skills.  Jim also frequented Aruba and other exotic destinations where he enjoyed the sport of Windsurfing.  Traveling was one of Jim’s favorite things to do.  He was always willing to travel great distances to be with family and friends.  He was a music lover, particularly of Hot Tuna, and Shilelagh Law.  Not only was Jim a lover of listening to music but also a player of music.  As of recent, Jim was challenging himself by learning to play the Cigar Box Guitar.

Jim was a very happy person throughout his life, had a wonderful sense of humor, and enjoyed being the life of the party.  He was affectionately known to his nieces and nephews as, “Crazy Uncle Jim.”  Aside from all of his interests, hobbies, and talents, his greatest passion was for his friends and family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Jim than spending time with his brothers, sister, nieces, nephews, and friends.  He was a very special person who touched the lives of everyone he met and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Jim is survived by his sister Kathy Ferre and her husband Bill of Wayne, two brothers John Fitzpatrick and his wife Mary Ellen of Boynton Beach, FL, and Kevin Fitzpatrick and his wife Peggy of Spring Lake, NJ, four nieces, Laura Fitzpatrick and her partner Tommy of Baltimore, MD, Caitlin Fitzpatrick and her husband Corey of Westbrook, Ct, Keri Fitzpatrick of Hoboken, NJ, and Jocelyn Ruggiero of Madison, CT, one nephew Brendan and his wife Sarah of Cincinnati, OH.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s name may be made to St. Elizabeth School at St E Fund P.O. Box 312 Bronxville, NY 10708.  https://saintelizabethschool.org/