Father Joseph Fitzpatrick Obituary

In Loving Memory of Father Joseph Vincent Fitzpatrick Father Joseph Vincent Fitzpatrick, committed Catholic priest, passed away on October 3 at St. Catherine's South in Fargo, ND, at the age of 70 following a 6-week illness from heart disease. He was born on July 15, 1953, in Washington, DC, to his parents Hugh and Ula (Sheehy) Fitzpatrick. His paternal family (LeVitre) had roots in Moorhead and in Fargo. Father Fitzpatrick was dedicated to the Catholic Faith as expressed in the Traditional Latin Mass which he celebrated exclusively in his final years. He was ordained as a priest by Bishop James Sullivan in 1992 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo and served in a number of locations in the Fargo Diocese, including Devils Lake, St. Joseph's Church; Crary (rural Rutten), St. Benedict's Church; Starkweather, Assumption Church; Langdon, St. Alphonsus Church; Nekoma, St. Edward's Church; Wales, St. Michael's Church; Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church; Osnabrock, St. Joseph's Church; Milton, St. Clotilde's Church; Osnabrock, St. Joseph's Church; Brocket, St. Joseph's Church; Tolna, St. Joseph's Church; Lakota, St. Mary's Church; Grand Forks, St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center; Manvel, St. Timothy's Church; Lidgerwood, St. Boniface Church; Geneseo, St. Martin's Church; Cayuga, Sts. Peter and Paul's Church. He is remembered for orthodox and well-prepared homilies, "gems of truth and courage'', in the words of a family friend; he was always concerned with guiding the Faithful away from doctrinal novelties. As a teenager, Father Fitzpatrick developed an interest the earliest recorded music and his life-long hobby was collecting, digitalizing, and restoring 20s and 30s dance band music,"red seals" and earliest classical recordings and the BF Goodrich Orchestra from "vinyl" 78s; he put his early training as a radio DJ to use by hosting a Sunday radio show presenting his collection with commentary. He hopes that his sizeable collection will be donated to an enthusiast. He graduated from Wheeling College, WV. While pursuing graduate studies in philosophy at Fordham University and driving a taxi, in New York City, he was the professional vocalist for the well-known dance band, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks. He worked in Catholic print and television journalism. He is survived by his siblings; John J. Fitzpatrick (Leslie), Upper Darby, PA, Mary E Fitzpatrick, Billings, MT, Donna Fitzpatrick Bethell (Tom), Washington, DC, and Linda M Gourash (William), Pittsburgh, PA. The funeral services for Father Fitzpatrick will be held on October 11 at 10 AM in St. Mary's Cathedral preceded by visitation beginning at 9 AM. There is a vigil service and visitation beginning at 6:30 PM the evening of October 10 at the Cathedral. All are welcome to pay their respects and to pray for the repose of his soul.