Susan Fitzpatrick

1936 - 2023

Susan Fitzpatrick
May 19, 2023
AUSTIN – Susan Ann Fitzpatrick, a long-time resident of Darien, CT, died on May 19th.
Susan passed away in Austin, Texas on Friday, May 19th. Born on August 5th, 1936, in New York City, Susan graduated from the Elizabeth Ann Seton School, earned a BA from Syracuse University and earned a master's in education from Columbia Teacher College. One of her favorite stories was the cross-country "girls" driving trip after college from New York to California in the summer of '58. Professionally, Susan taught elementary school in New York City. She married the love of her life, John J. Fitzpatrick, in June of 1964 in the Church of Our Savior, in New York.
Susan grew up in a loving, close-knit family in Manhattan and Riverdale, New York. Her father, Fred Shaughnessy, called her the "apple of his eye." Summers in her childhood were spent in upstate New York at her mother, Marge Shaughnessy's, sister's farm in Carmel with her favorite Soltesz cousins. Later, as a young adult, she loved to frolic in the sun and surf on the beaches by day and dress up for dinner and dancing at Spring Lake, NJ at the shore.
Susan and her family moved from New York City to Darien, CT in 1971, arriving at their house on a snowy, winter day. Susan enjoyed living in Darien for 41 years and made great friends at their homes on Country Club and Pilgrim Road. Susan loved raising her three children, whom all graduated from and thrived in the excellent Darien public schools. Susan appreciated being close to NYC and going into the City for Broadway shows and dinners. In 2012, she moved with her husband and daughter to Austin, Texas to be closer to her two sons and their families.
Her survivors include her son, John Joseph Jr and wife, Kristen Vassallo, daughter Kathie Shaughne Fitzpatrick and her son Frederick (Fritz) Keene Fitzpatrick. Susan was proud of and loved spending time with her beloved and adorable four grandchildren Jack, Ellie, Betsy and Teddy. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, John Fitzpatrick, brother Fred, her mother Margaret Meitner Shaughnessy and father, Frederick Shaughnessy Sr.
Susan's "love language" were gifts and cards for every occasion, from traditional ones like birthdays and Christmas to St Patrick's Day, Easter and Thanksgiving. For Susan, the Olympics, presidential campaigns from early debates to election night and the U.S. Open/Wimbledon tennis tournaments were "must see" viewing events, which she regaled her friends and family with daily updates. Susan, we will miss you!
A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 22nd from 5:00-7 p.m. and a Celebration of Life on Friday, June 23rd at 11 a.m., followed by reception/lunch at noon, both will be held in Austin at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, on 2620 South Congress Ave., Austin, Texas. A burial service and Celebration of Life luncheon will be held in July, in New York at Beecher-Flooks Funeral Home in Pleasantville, NY and Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation at: www.myotonic.org/donate