Fitchburg

Richard O. Fitzpatrick Jr. (Rick/Fitzy), 68 passed away on Sunday, February 21, after a short illness.

Richard was born on August 30, 1952 in Fitchburg, a son of the late Richard O. Fitzpatrick Sr. and Theresa (Bourque).

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Karen A. (Boudreau) Fitzpatrick of Fitchburg, daughter, Kelly A. Fitzpatrick of Fitchburg, son, Ryan Fitzpatrick, brothers, Kevin M. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Deanna, of Leominster, Brian Fitzpatrick and his wife, Paula, along with several nieces and nephews, who enjoyed his sense of humor and love of family gatherings. He will be dearly missed by all.

Rick was a graduate of Fitchburg High School where he played football along with other sports. After High School he attended and graduated from Mount Wachusett Community College majoring in Criminal Justice.

Rick served the City of Fitchburg for 32 years as a member of the Fitchburg Police Department, retiring as a Detective. As a Detective, he was a member of the North Worcester County Drug Task Force and worked with the DEA in Worcester. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award with the New England Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association. Rick was also known as an expert marksman during his career.

Rick enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, cruise nights and car shows with his 1965 Shelby Mustang. He was an avid Patriots and Nascar fan, enjoyed fishing, and playing his electric guitar. He was a member of the Fitchburg Rod and Gun Club. He loved genealogical research on Ancestry.com, had a great love for dogs and watching vet shows on NatGeo.

Rick's greatest enjoyment was supporting his children at all of their sporting and dance events. He loved traveling with his wife to Europe, Alaska, and visiting Freeport, Maine.

Fitzpatrick

Services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Rick's memory may be made to The One Mission, Buzz Off for Kids with Cancer or Care Central VNA and Hospice of Gardner, MA.

View the online memorial for Richard O. Fitzpatrick, Jr.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Sentinel & Enterprise on Feb. 26, 2021.

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Ed and Sue Cronin

February 27, 2021

Dear Karen, Kelly and Ryan,
Our hearts go out to you at the passing of your beloved Rick. May God’s peace and grace be yours during this profoundly sad time.
You are in our prayers.
With love,

Carol Cotnoir Hunt

February 27, 2021

Karen,
I am so sorry to hear about Richard I know this must be an enormous loss. My thoughts are with you.

Dianne Redstone

February 26, 2021

Dear Karen and Family,

I am so honored to have gotten to know Rick, who I lovingly call #1.
Our guitar lessons and visits during Covid times were so important for us. The three of us had great times together. I still can’t believe #1 is not here in the physical but he is here in my heart. So glad we got to play his Jazz songs together. Blessings to the family.

Dianne Redstone

Phyllis Cheeseman

February 26, 2021

My deepest sympathy. I had the pleasure of working with Fitzy at FPD. He was an amazing man and will be missed by all that had the opportunity to know/work with him. prayers to the entire family. ❤

February 26, 2021

Karen, Kelly and Ryan~
Our hearts go out to you and to everyone who loved Rick. This is such a huge loss.

David & Gale Isabelle

SKIP BOURQUE

February 26, 2021

Kindlyacceptmy heartfelt condolences and the sincere sympathy of my family to you and your family for your loss.
As teenagers Fitzy and I had hallway lockers near one another and shared a few of the same classes at FHS. Later in life, I knew him as a hardworking and fair-minded FPD officer and eventually as respected former law enforcement colleague.
I first encountered Fitzy in our youth at McCarthy Field in Coggshall Park. In those days it wasn't much more than a trampled upon hay field where kids from many different Fitchburg neighborhoods would sometimes meet to play pickup games of baseball or football.
I didn't get to know him well as we were each roaming around town with a group of kids from different neighborhoods. The Wachusetts Boxing Club (formerly located in Depot Square) would also on occasion throw down gym mats and attach ropes to four posts hammered into the ground there as a makeshift boxing ring for outdoor exhibitions on the weekends.
Fitzy was one of a dozen or more of us kids impatiently standing around the ring and heckling the kids boxing to finish so we could play ball, and he took up the adult organizer's offer to anyone who wanted (to learn) a lesson from a boxing club member: Fitzy silently put on an ill-fitting boxing helmet and a pair of over-sized gloves then destroyed this much bigger and slightly older kid. Never heard him boast or gloat about it then nor later even mention it.
A few years later, I found myself sitting next to him on the first day of school at an industrial arts workbench. The shop teacher (who we affectionately called “The Eccentric Mr. P”) began rapidly talking to a basically inattentive class of about 40 students (two to a workbench) about the shop wood shaping tools he had placed on every workbench while he instructed all of us how to take each piece of the tool apart and precisely place each part in front of us.
Becoming irritated that nobody seemed to be paying much attention, “Mr. P” stopped talking and instructed one of the two students at each workbench to hold up a specific part as he walked around the classroom. I noticed that except for Fitzy, all the other students were holding up the exact same part, and when I tried to hand him this part before the teacher noticed he just determinedly shook his head: Fitzy was the only one holding up the correct part; and this memory pretty much sums up the person who I later came to know better as an adult.
RIP Brother.

Mike Devlin

February 26, 2021

I had the pleasure of working with Fitz at the DEA office in Worcester.
He had a wonderful personality, people were drawn to him and he treated everybody well. He was a good cop and a good friend.

Todd Deacon

February 26, 2021

RIP Fitz Wa! Great privilege to work w you at FPD! Gone too soon Brother!! My deepest sympathies to Karen, Ryan & Kelly!! ♂

Carolyn Lekas Poirier

February 26, 2021

Dear Kevin and family,

I am so sorry to read of Ricky’s passing. May all of your memories bring comfort.

With deepest sympathy,
Carolyn

Janet Quintal Zadrozny

February 26, 2021

I first met Rick when our parents were friends back in the 60's. He was a good man from a good family. I am saddened to hear of his passing.
Karen, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
My sincere sympathy.

Tom and Cheryl Dellogono

February 26, 2021

Karen, Kelly and Ryan,
We are sadden to read about Ricks Passing. Cheryl and I send our condolences and prayers for you in this difficult time. The fun times and great memories will live on forever. May Rick Rest In Peace, gone way to young! Tom and Cheryl

Rob

February 26, 2021

Rest in peace FITZY. Probably one of the funniest guys I ever met. I will always remember his sense of humor. My condolences to the entire Fitzpatrick family.

Robert Quirk
(Ret) Leom. P.D.
1995-2017

LISA MOREY

February 26, 2021

My Thoughts and prayers are with the Fitzpatrick Family

Gael Dussault

February 26, 2021

Many fond memories of growing up with Rick as Fitchburg neighbors. Kevin and Brian, I’m so sorry for you and your families.

Gael Dussault

Donna Collura

February 25, 2021

Thoughts and prayers to the Fitzpatrick family.

Steve Ciccolini

February 25, 2021

I am saddened by the death of such a really wonderful person. Anytime I would have the pleasure of running in to Rick, I was met with a huge smile and a strong handshake. Please know, Karen,that you and your family are in my prayers. Rick will be sorely missed.

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