Joseph William Fitzpatrick

FITZPATRICK Joseph William, 87, of Haven Beach NJ died peacefully at home on July 11, 2008. Mr. Fitzpatrick was born in Paterson, NJ on March 17, 1921, the son of the late William Joseph and Mary Veronica (Matthews) Fitzpatrick. He graduated from St. Paul's School, Clifton, St. Peter's Prep, Fordham University, and John Marshall Law School. Mr. Fitzpatrick served with the Marine Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Solomon Islands and Guam in the South Pacific during World War II and as a Captain at Camp Pendleton, CA during the Korean Conflict.Mr. Fitzpatrick married Eileen Ann Mitchell in St. Nicholas Church, Passaic on September 1949, and was married for almost 59 years. A Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Fitzpatrick's career spanned public accounting, broadcasting, communications and banking. An alumnus of Price Waterhouse, he later worked at American Broadcasting Company. He finished his career as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Citizens First National Bank, Ridgewood. He was a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Rutgers University, 1976, and a long time member of the Financial Executives Institute (FEI) as well as New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants.Mr. Fitzpatrick lived in Oradell in Bergen County from 1957 to 1986 where he was very active in community and church activities. He was an organizer of the Oradell Democratic Committee, a co-founder and President of the Oradell Swim Club, a long time member of the Oradell Lions Club, and a member of the River Dell Regional Board of Education. He was a parishioner at St. Joseph's Church, Oradell and served on the Parish Finance Council.He was a long-time resident of Long Beach Island. Mr. Fitzpatrick was a member of St. Francis Parish and he was a volunteer for the Long Beach Island Commemorative 18 Mile Run founded by his son Bill in 1973. Mr. Fitzpatrick was also a member of the LBI Men's Garden Club, Men's Forum, and the Beach Haven and Spray Beach Yacht Clubs.In retirement, he and his wife traveled frequently to their home in Aghaboe, County Laois, Ireland, to the family-owned Fitzpatrick Winery and Lodge in Fair Play, California, and to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He was a dedicated St. Peter's Prep alumnus and faithfully attended many functions over the years including his grandson Tom's graduation in 2007. He was introduced to St. Peter's Prep by his uncle, Msgr. Harold V. Fitzpatrick, a long-time Jersey City priest who graduated from Prep in 1915. He was also a member of the Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus, and a long-time retreatant of the Loyola House of Retreats, Morristown. Mr. Fitzpatrick is survived by his wife Eileen, sons Michael, Brian (Diana) and William (Patricia), and seven grandchildren, Katie Mae and Molly, California, Megan, New Mexico, and Thomas, Jeanne, Margaret, and William, Westfield. His sister Mary Clare Sullivan of Totowa, his niece Patricia Keegan Abels of White Plains, nephews Mark Sullivan, Wayne, and Brian Sullivan, Totowa and grand nieces and nephews also survive him. He was predeceased by his sister, Regina Fitzpatrick. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Dooley Funeral Home, 556 Westfield Avenue, Westfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, July 15 from 7-9 PM and Wednesday, July 16 from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, July 17 at Holy Trinity Church, Westfield, NJ. Internment will be private. Mr.