Richard P. FITZGERALD

1938 - 2018

FITZGERALD, Richard P. Richard P. FitzGerald, a renowned interior designer, dies at 80. Richard FitzGerald of Boston and Osterville, Massachusetts and Palm Beach, died peacefully at home in Osterville on September 14 with his family by his side. "Mr. Fitz," as he was known to his dear friends, was an inveterate collector of antiques and decorative arts who has left an enduring legacy of artistry and beauty around the world. He loved style and glamour and was always impeccably and fashionably turned out with a Scottish Terrier by his side. He was recently feted in Palm Beach on the occasion of his 80th birthday where he was surrounded by his fabulous and loyal friends and family as he celebrated his milestone. Richard was born January 21, 1938 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He studied interior design at the esteemed School of the Museum of Fine Arts. After graduating, Richard began his career working for interior designer Benjamin Cook at his legendary Boston design studio and shop, Trade Winds, where he further tuned his connoisseurship of fine antiques, furnishings, and interior design. Having impressed the staff of House Beautiful magazine while staging photo shoots in Cambridge and on Cape Cod, he accepted an offer to become their interior decorating editor in New York. He then became the East Coast and European editor for Architectural Digest in New York while also working on his own interior design projects in the Boston area. Richard returned to Boston and opened his eponymous design studio in Boston in 1973 focusing on high-end residential interior design in the United States and internationally. For more than forty years Richard worked on projects in New York, Boston, Osterville, Palm Beach, Hong Kong, and London among others. His work has been published in many prestigious design publications including Traditional Home, House & Garden, House Beautiful, New England Home. In 2007, he was inducted into the New England Design Hall of Fame. Richard is survived by his lifetime partner, David Webster; a brother Gerald T. FitzGerald of Wells, Maine and West Palm Beach, Florida; a sister-in-law Barbara FitzGerald of Methuen, Massachusetts; sister-in-law Mrs. Fay FitzGerald of Ogunquit, Maine; niece Erin FitzGerald Peters of Wells, Maine; niece Maura FitzGerald Noreen of Cotuit, MA; niece Amy FitzGerald Forbes of Ogunquit, Maine; nephew Michael M. FitzGerald of New York City; nephew Jeffrey FitzGerald of York, Maine; and nephew Robert FitzGerald, Jr. of Methuen, Massachusetts. He was pre-deceased by his brothers Robert P. FitzGerald and Martin M. FitzGerald, Jr. A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced. Friends wishing to make a donation in memory of Mr. FitzGerald may donate to the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, Hospice, 255 Independence Drive Hyannis, MA 02601 (508)957-7400 or online at https://support.givetocapecodhealth.org/ Photo by Michael Fein/Courtesy of New England Home