Vincent DePaul Fitzpatrick III

Mr. Fitzpatrick, I never had the pleasure of meeting you, however, I want to say knowing and having the honor of calling your son a friend, he exudes what a kind man you were. Rest easy.

Vince was a prince among men: as a Mencken scholar and as a true mensch. I cannot believe he is no longer among us on this particularly messy plane of existence. I can thank my parents, Margery and R. P. Harriss (whom Mencken introduced to one another, by the way) for my own fascination with Henry Mencken and my warm affection for Vince. May he rest in peace--but busy, busy, busy with his good works.

I am devastated by the news of Vince's sudden passing on July 15! Vince was one of the leading Mencken scholars of his time, and, as Curator of the Mencken Collection at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, he had the unfailing courtesy of sending me photocopies of Mencken texts and giving me expert advice information for the past thirty years and editorial advice for the past eight years, when I served as Editor of Menckeniana (published by the Pratt Library). Vince was a great gentleman and...

I was helped by Vincent to shoot on a lacrosse goal on the Friends School athletic fields by the swimming pool. He was very encouraging and generous with his time. Tom Young

What a tremendous loss to Mencken scholarship and more importantly the loss of a good decent man. Always willing to share his knowledge with good cheer. Rest in peace.

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

Sending Love to his dear wife, and remembering treasured moments and his gifts to Mencken's Legacy. Years of sharing what he loved with everyone. His smile was infectious and his joy and steadfast enthusiasm. Many stories he shared, but his own life story is the best of all. He is with us all. My sincere condolences to the family, friends, and also those at the Pratt.