MILLBURY – James F. Fitzpatrick, 78, died Saturday, Sept. 21st after a short illness.
He leaves his wife, Judith A. (Spang) Fitzpatrick; five sons, Peter F. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Dion of Sutton, James S. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Jacqueline of Millbury, John A. Fitzpatrick of Millbury, Paul M. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Mary of Maine and Matthew D. Fitzpatrick of Millbury; seven grandchildren; one great granddaughter; two sisters, Margaret Connolly of West Groton and Elizabeth Woodin of Vermont; two brothers, Terance Fitzpatrick of Washington and Bernard Fitzpatrick of Arizona; nephews and nieces. He was born in Pepperell and is predeceased by his parents, Peter F. and Mary (McGuire) Fitzpatrick and a brother, Michael Fitzpatrick.
Jim graduated from Fitchburg State College in 1956 with a major in special education. He then taught in the Sutton Public School for a year, before entering the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1958. He was a teacher-Principal in the Grafton Elementary School from 1958 to 1962, a special education teacher in the town of Holliston from 1962 to 1967, a supervisor for the program for handicapped children for the Mass. Dept. of Education, an administrator for the program for Special Education Rhode Island and a Regional Director of Education in West Boylston from 1975 to 1985 in the Chapter 766 program in public schools. In 1985 he became a licensed Real Estate broker working with his wife in their office in Millbury, specializing in residential real estate in Southern Worcester County. In 1994 he became President of the Regional Association of Realtors and then served as Director of Orientation for new Realtors from 1990 to 1996. Jim was named Mass. Realtor of the Year in 1994 and then received the Realtors Distinguished Service Award, before retiring from active work in real estate in 2002.
Jim was elected to the Millbury School Committee in 1967 to 1970 and then appointed to the Millbury Planning Board in 1976 to 1985. In 1984 he was appointed to the Millbury Housing Partnership whose focus was working with builders to create affordable housing in Millbury.
His funeral will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 25th from Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 Main St. in Millbury with a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Brigid Church, 59 Main St. in Millbury. Calling hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24th in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Brigid Church, 59 Main St. in Millbury, MA 01527. Burial will be private in St. Brigid Cemetery in Millbury.
Read James Fitzpatrick's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.