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Patrick Fitzpatrick Obituary
Dr. Fitzpatrick was born and spent the first ten years of his life in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. His family (mother-Kathleen, father-Michael Joseph and brother-John) then moved to Manchester, England where he attended St. Greggory's Technical Academy. At age 16, his family immigrated to the United States, and he began his life in America. He received both his undergraduate and PhD degrees from Rutgers University. Mike married his first wife, Patricia Paredes, and together they raised four children in Bethesda, Maryland. Mike married his second wife, Teresita Lega, in 2007 and they spent their time travelling, entertaining, and with family. After losing his beloved Teresita in 2019, Mike moved to California to be closer to family.
Mike held post-doctoral positions as an instructor at the Courant Institute of New York University and as an L.E. Dickson Instructor at the University of Chicago. Mike was a full time professor at the University of Maryland for over 40 years and spent 8 of those years as the Chairman of the Math Department. Professor Fitzpatrick wrote many books and his Real Analysis and calculus textbooks are still used at universities worldwide.
Mike was preceded in death by his mother (Kathleen), father (Michael) and wife (Teresita Lega). Mike leaves behind four children: Bridget Evans (Brian), Patrick Fitzpatrick (Manal), Kera Van Huizum (Robert) and Michael Joseph (Christina ) and three grandchildren Benjamin, Olivia and Sadie. Mike will be remembered for his brilliance, generosity, avid love of Manchester City Soccer Club, eclectic musical taste, and most of all the love for his family.
At a private service, Mike will be buried next to his wife, Teresita, at Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The American Cancer Society.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Patrick Fitzpatrick
Patrick D. Fitzpatrick
July 10, 2025
My dear Dad was incredibly good to me. He showed me dignity and humility while being a great supporter. His commitment to academics was one of the best lessons he stood upon. Witnessing his perseverance and joy in solving mathematics is a blessing. He was his own man, and respected everyone. He may have left this world but his gentleness and love are alive and well. praise God
Dave Marain
April 28, 2025
I am deeply saddened by Mike´s passing. He and I were very close as math majors at Rutgers Newark and I spoke to him years later when he was the chair of the math department. at U. of Maryland. I realize it´s almost a year, but this is the first time I became aware of it. My deepest condolences to his entire family. Mike was truly a one-of-a-kind human being who touched the lives of all those around him.
Tim Healey
December 20, 2024
I only discovered today that Mike passed away this year. I was a visiting assistant professor at U. Maryland 1984-85, when I took his course "Topological Methods for Nonlinear Differential Equations". This had a big impact on the direction of my future work. Moreover, we became friends at that time. We had common interests and backgrounds, e.g., my grandparents were from Ireland. After starting at Cornell, we visited each other from time to time and always stayed in touch. Most recently he spent a few weeks here in Fall 2019. Aside being a first-rate mathematician, he was a great guy - funny and always charming with his Irish brogue. I will miss him dearly.
My sincere condolences to the family for your loss.
Ian Hambleton
October 3, 2024
Just learned about Mike´s passing. We were friends for 50 years, starting when we met as instructors at U. Chicago. Our heartfelt condolences to the family.
Andrew Mamantov
August 22, 2024
Mike and I met as graduate students at Rutgers in New Brunswick, N. J. I answered an ad for a roommate, and knew right away we would become friends.
We enjoyed playing flag football Saturday mornings in Johnson Park. Mike was the quarterback and I was a receiver. After the game, the entire group would go to the local tavern.
Mike was very engaging, the girls would swoon over his English accent, and he had a beautiful smile.
Mike was my very, very dearest, closest friend.
Karin Melnick
August 13, 2024
Mike was a kind and charming colleague. I am very sad to learn of his passing and share my condolences with his family.
Marc Holtz
July 21, 2024
Mr Fitzpatrick was my instructor over a two years span in the honors calculus and honors analysis sequences at the University of Chicago in the 1970's. He was a LE Dickson instructor and I suppose in his late 20's. Even after 50 years I remember him writing his name "Mr. Fitzpatrick" on the blackboard the first day of math 161-2-3. He was an extremely lucid and enthusiastic teacher, and was also kind, respectful and generous to his students. He encouraged me to stick with math 207-8-9 even when I felt it was beyond me. I occasionally ran into him at Hyde Park's local watering hole, Jimmy's, enjoying a pint and chatting with his colleagues and friends after a long day of teaching and research. My condolences to his family.
Liz Adams
July 9, 2024
I was sorry to learn of Mike's death. He was a colleague and friend of my late husband, Bill Adams, who died in February. I remember dancing with Mike at my daughter Sarah's wedding reception held at the Marriott on the Maryland campus
Teresa Fischer & Jacobo Pejsachowicz
July 7, 2024
Mike was our closest friend. We will always remember him as a gentle, kind person.
Manoussos Grillakis
June 28, 2024
I am truly sorry to hear of Mike's passing.
He was a true friend and I will miss him.
I wish I could have seen him before he passed.
Manoussos Grillakis
Craig Evans
June 28, 2024
I am so sorry to hear about Mike's passing. He was my colleague at the University of Maryland during the 1980s and, then and long afterwards,
my great friend. My wife and I visited him in La Jolla a few years ago, and
he was as kind and funny as ever.
I learned so much from Mike over the years, and not just mathematics.
Craig Evans
Stuart Antman
June 27, 2024
It was with great sadness that I just read of Mike's death. While teaching a graduate course at the Courant Institute over fifty years ago, I had to deal with penetrating questions from a guy in the back row with wild reddish-brown hair. I was relieved to discover that he was a post-doc, and not a mere grad student. We often had pleasant discussions after class.
A couple of years later, as a professor at Maryland, I was delighted to
welcome Mike as a colleague and friend. I always enjoyed chatting with him
and playing tennis with him during the many years we were neighbors. I miss him.
I send you and your families my deepest condolences.
Ed Berger
June 27, 2024
Oh my so sorry to hear this. The best soccer coach ever and can never forget his love of (and pronunciation of) Bobby Charlton. A major loss to the RU Mathematics community and humanity at large. Deepest condolences to `Mikey´ and the entire family. A great man. Ed and Marcy Berger
Yoshihiro Shirai
June 27, 2024
Professor Fitzpatrick was on my PhD committee and my instructor in Analysis. He was a kind, inspiring, and loving person. I am saddened by this news, and I would like to offer my deepest condolences to his family.
Jim Yorke
June 27, 2024
I am so sorry to hear of Mike's passing. He was a great friend and colleague.
Jim Yorke
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