DAVID FITZPATRICK Obituary

FITZPATRICK--David. David Fitzpatrick died at sunrise on Christmas Day 2023, at Mt. Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York, in the loving company of his sons and daughter-in-law. Born in Kansas City, Kansas on December 20, 1954 to Catherine Anderson (nee Huber) and Dr. Martin Fitzpatrick, David was the youngest of four brothers (Michael, Stephen, and Benjamin) in a family that would grow to include three step brothers (Fletcher, Warren, and Nicholas Anderson) and two step-sisters (Barbara Stanton and Carol Donnelly). He moved to Denver, Co in 1959 with Cat and stepfather Keith Anderson. In 1969, after a childhood of horses, skis, and wide open spaces, he headed east to attend The Putney School in Vermont. There he met lifelong friends teacher David Calicchio, his wife Nancy, and journalist Tim Weiner. David next attended Columbia, graduating in 1978 and making Manhattan his permanent home. David was married in 1993 to Jody O'Brien. The marriage ended in divorce, but the couple remained friendly and together raised two sons, onto whom David passed many of his loves and interests. David epitomized the old saw "still waters run deep." A 40-year student of the philosophy of G.I. Gurdjieff, David remained intellectually ravenous his entire life, casting a wide net of interests in his pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment. A glance around his handsome East Village apartment makes for a good sketch of this man of words and skills. The guitars, mandolins, sheet music, and recording equipment reflect his lifelong passion for music. The workbench, tool belts, and stock of woodworking tools remain from a legacy of carpentry and craftsmanship that endures in high-end homes across New York. The easels and paintings, both complete and in progress, pay tribute to the artistic itch he was compelled to scratch. The well-stocked kitchen and carefully chosen cookware reflect the chef who understood the importance and joy of a meal prepared with love. The pipes, unfiltered Camels, and Johnnie Walker Red Scotch point to the man who took time to pause and savor life, and the shelves, stacks, and untidy piles of books on a panoply of subjects (not to mention all the full notebooks and essays) show the lifelong scholar striving to make sense of the world and hoping to pass along what wisdom he felt he had found. He was a reliable font of stray knowledge, delivered with such authority that it was the rare listener who realized his factoids were only correct 85% of the time. David is survived by his sons Johann and Henry, daughter-in-law Dr. Katie Botta (wife of Johann), brothers Stephen and Benjamin, stepbrother Warren, stepsisters Barbara and Carol, nieces, nephews, and more friends than can be counted here. A small private memorial will be held among family, but we encourage you to raise a glass to him. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Doctors Without Borders, one of David's favorite charities.

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Published by New York Times on Jan. 8, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for DAVID FITZPATRICK

13 Entries

Pat Ivers

December 18, 2024

During this Christmas season, we remember David with happiness. A lovely man.

ELIZABETH J GROSS

January 12, 2024

Johann and Henry,

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your dad. I did not know him but there was a time when I knew his lovely sons. He was a lucky man to be your father, to have your love and regard, from when you were sweet little boys to the strong and creative young men you are now.

I send you both love and hugs. I am sorry for your loss.

Liz Gross

Fenna

January 11, 2024

Dear Johann, I am so very sorry for your loss! Reading your obituary of him makes him sound like an incredibly multi-faceted, interesting person, a man who can be thought of with many fond memories and anecdotes. I hope you will be able to do so whenever you eat good food, play music, read books, craft something and enjoy life´s small pleasures. I´m thinking of you and your family. Love, Fenna

Ronan Leahy

January 11, 2024

So sorry to hear of your dad's passing Johann. Condolences to you and the family.

Patricia Grigsby

January 9, 2024

Johann and Henry,

I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. The loss of a parent is never easy and alters you forever. Your loving memories of him, as you so beautifully portray in this tribute, will always be there in your heart to cherish and embrace.

Thinking of you with love, and sending hugs and strength to you both and to your amazing mom Jody at this difficult time.

With love always,
Patti

Daniel Eagan

January 9, 2024

Thank you for your warm writing and please accept my condolences.

Jody H

January 8, 2024

What a beautiful, well written tribute to a fascinating and complicated man. It´s been years since I´ve seen him and reading this brings him back whole.

Johann, Henry, I´m sorry you´ve lost your father. He lives on in your music and art and commitment to your passions. He went deep- deep curiosity, deep intellect, deep love of music and craft and art and, mostly, deep love of you guys.

Jody, I´m so sorry. I´m pouring a whiskey and raising a glass- To David.

For all who shared his life, im sorry for your loss.

David Kulko

January 8, 2024

Dear Johann and Henry,

My name is David Kulko and I just received the saddening news of your father's death. I wanted to tell you that, though we met each other under very unusual circumstances, I am certain that we would have become friends had we met anywhere else, such was our affinity. There's a saying from the ancient Greeks that goes: "Friends have all things in common." We shared a love of music (especially Bach), and the life of the mind in general-- both of us being polymaths and autodidacts. Your father was that rare person we call a "Renaissance Man." As you well know, your father was brilliant and quirky, flawed, sensitive and sympathetic, introspective, and very, very funny-- which I loved. Johann, I was at the hospital very shortly after you were delivered, an indelible memory for me.

I have special memories of your father, and if you two young men ever want to spend some time, please feel free to reach out. Your mother knows how to get a hold of me. In the meantime, I hope that my friend's spirit resides in you both forever, as does my father's spirit does in me.

Marcy Brafman

January 8, 2024

So many fond memories. It certainly was a time. The Scheinfeld Brafman family is sad to learn of David's passing. He is beautifully remembered here. Love and condolences to Johann, Henry and Jody.

Patricia Ivers

January 8, 2024

Condolences to the Fitzpatrick family on the passing of David, a lovely man. Witty, erudite and warm, he will be missed by family and friends. May the light of his memory be a blessing.