Boyce Lawrence Fitzpatrick of Fairfax, Virginia, died on October 26, 2025, with his daughters at his side.
Born on August 6, 1939, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Boyce was the fourth of seven children of the late Fenton Fitzpatrick, whose family hailed from County Laois, Ireland, and Maria (Clancy) Fitzpatrick of County Leitrim, Ireland. Raised in modest circumstances, Boyce recalled childhood chores such as gathering discarded pallet wood for firewood from the ironworks foundry where his father worked.
Boyce graduated from Dorchester High School and served in the United States Army before working a series of jobs, including employment at Boston Children's Hospital. It was there that he met Ann, a lovely lady from County Kerry, Ireland, whom he married in August 1966. Boyce earned his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University and then completed his master's degree in one year from Boston University, having earned a full scholarship.
He began his professional career with the Central Intelligence Agency, a role that brought Boyce, Ann, and their infant daughter from Boston to Fairfax County, Virginia. After an agency reorganization, Boyce transitioned to the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, where he built a distinguished career spanning nearly 30 years. In this role, he represented and advocated for American trade interests throughout Europe.
Boyce was preceded in death by his beloved wife Ann, who died of cancer in 1994.
He is survived by his three daughters: Rose Fitzpatrick, Judy Wittmer (Bill) and Marjorie Butler (Akos); and by his grandchildren Elizabeth, Jeremiah (Caroline), Mary, Grace, Benjamin, Jubilee, Sarah, Daniel, and Mercy Wittmer; and Asher and June Butler. Boyce missed meeting his newborn great-grandson Isaac Wittmer by 2 1/2 weeks.
Boyce is also survived by his brother, Robert Fitzpatrick; his sister Josephine Holubiak; his brothers-in-law George Mulford and Thomas Holubiak; and his sister-in-law Mary Fitzpatrick.
He was predeceased by his brothers Francis (Frank) and Joseph Fitzpatrick; sisters Elizabeth Mulford and Marie Spear, sisters-in-law Karen Fitzpatrick and Genevieve Fitzpatrick, and brother-in-law Peter Spear. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews.
Boyce was not inclined toward sentimentality, yet he could display a deeply tender and generous spirit. This was evident in quiet acts of kindness: helping a disabled veteran eat at a luncheon, offering gentle care to an ailing family member, purchasing thoughtful gifts for his siblings, or courting Ann with a packet of flower seeds when he could not afford a bouquet. These gestures were never performed for recognition. Yet they were seen, they were remembered, and they speak powerfully to the character of the man Boyce was.
A lifelong learner, Boyce pursued a wide range of many interests throughout his life, such as tennis, pickleball, walking, traveling, tending his lawn, learning piano, and singing. He was a voracious reader, curious about subjects as varied as monarch butterflies to biblical knowledge. By the end of his life, he grew confident in the grace and mercy found in the finished work of Christ, remarking that, "if Paul the apostle could be converted, then anyone can!" and treasuring what he was learning, even in his final days.
A quote and a verse that he cherished:
"May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus."
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17.
In accordance with Boyce's wishes, there will be no memorial services or funeral. Instead, go plant some seeds - and remember him.
Born on August 6, 1939, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Boyce was the fourth of seven children of the late Fenton Fitzpatrick, whose family hailed from County Laois, Ireland, and Maria (Clancy) Fitzpatrick of County Leitrim, Ireland. Raised in modest circumstances, Boyce recalled childhood chores such as gathering discarded pallet wood for firewood from the ironworks foundry where his father worked.
Boyce graduated from Dorchester High School and served in the United States Army before working a series of jobs, including employment at Boston Children's Hospital. It was there that he met Ann, a lovely lady from County Kerry, Ireland, whom he married in August 1966. Boyce earned his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University and then completed his master's degree in one year from Boston University, having earned a full scholarship.
He began his professional career with the Central Intelligence Agency, a role that brought Boyce, Ann, and their infant daughter from Boston to Fairfax County, Virginia. After an agency reorganization, Boyce transitioned to the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, where he built a distinguished career spanning nearly 30 years. In this role, he represented and advocated for American trade interests throughout Europe.
Boyce was preceded in death by his beloved wife Ann, who died of cancer in 1994.
He is survived by his three daughters: Rose Fitzpatrick, Judy Wittmer (Bill) and Marjorie Butler (Akos); and by his grandchildren Elizabeth, Jeremiah (Caroline), Mary, Grace, Benjamin, Jubilee, Sarah, Daniel, and Mercy Wittmer; and Asher and June Butler. Boyce missed meeting his newborn great-grandson Isaac Wittmer by 2 1/2 weeks.
Boyce is also survived by his brother, Robert Fitzpatrick; his sister Josephine Holubiak; his brothers-in-law George Mulford and Thomas Holubiak; and his sister-in-law Mary Fitzpatrick.
He was predeceased by his brothers Francis (Frank) and Joseph Fitzpatrick; sisters Elizabeth Mulford and Marie Spear, sisters-in-law Karen Fitzpatrick and Genevieve Fitzpatrick, and brother-in-law Peter Spear. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews.
Boyce was not inclined toward sentimentality, yet he could display a deeply tender and generous spirit. This was evident in quiet acts of kindness: helping a disabled veteran eat at a luncheon, offering gentle care to an ailing family member, purchasing thoughtful gifts for his siblings, or courting Ann with a packet of flower seeds when he could not afford a bouquet. These gestures were never performed for recognition. Yet they were seen, they were remembered, and they speak powerfully to the character of the man Boyce was.
A lifelong learner, Boyce pursued a wide range of many interests throughout his life, such as tennis, pickleball, walking, traveling, tending his lawn, learning piano, and singing. He was a voracious reader, curious about subjects as varied as monarch butterflies to biblical knowledge. By the end of his life, he grew confident in the grace and mercy found in the finished work of Christ, remarking that, "if Paul the apostle could be converted, then anyone can!" and treasuring what he was learning, even in his final days.
A quote and a verse that he cherished:
"May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus."
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17.
In accordance with Boyce's wishes, there will be no memorial services or funeral. Instead, go plant some seeds - and remember him.
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