The family of William Francis Fitzpatrick, Sr. is sad to announce his passing. After a remarkable 93 years, Bill died peacefully on October 22, 2022 at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veteran's Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts with family by his side.

Bill was born on September 28, 1929 at Emerson Hospital to John and Mary (McDermott) Fitzpatrick. He attended the Harvey Wheeler Elementary School in West Concord, St. Mary's High School in Waltham and graduated in 1952 from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne as a Marine Engineer. He recently attended his 70th reunion at his beloved Mass Maritime and led the alumni procession to the homecoming football game.

In October of 1958, he married the love of his life and bride of 64 years Joan (Fuccile) Fitzpatrick. They had five children, John, Susan, Joseph, William Jr. and Sally who all reside in Massachusetts. His pride and joy were his children and their families including eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. "Grampy" was ever-present at school and sporting activities to provide encouragement and support for his successors.

He spent two years at sea with American Export Lines as a Merchant Marine before enlisting in the Navy in 1955. After two years of active duty and 18 years in the Naval Reserve, Bill retired from military service as a Lieutenant Commander. He joined Liberty Mutual as a safety engineer after his active duty and advanced through a distinguished career at Raytheon in Lexington thereafter. In 1991, he retired with 30 years of service at Raytheon in the position of Corporate Manager of Employee Benefits and Services for the growing corporation. He was known and is remembered as a principled and compassionate leader.

Bill took an active role in the communities where he lived. He volunteered his expertise to lead church and school organizations including, mentoring, coaching tee ball and little league, lending muscle to improve ball fields, building storage shelves in a high school drama room and singing lead in a skit at a school fundraiser to his young family's delight. In 1981, he was the first elected president of the Acton Boxboro Student Activities Fund (ABSAF) an organization that remains today as an important source of funding to offset student participation and equipment fees.

Bill was a long suffering Boston sports fan and was thankful to have experienced the recent blessings of his fandom. He cherished the opportunity to engage with his family, classmates and friends to debate the state of his various teams, to watch a big sporting event (or not so big), to support his kids and grandkids from the sidelines and to will Raphael Devers from double pumping before his throws to first.

He enjoyed golfing with Uncle Lou on family vacations at the Jersey Shore and loved introducing the sport to his children. He was never happier on the golf course than when Joan picked up the sport and it became a foundation of their retirement. Bill enjoyed working puzzles and intricate models but especially loved playing handyman for his children and their families as shelves needed building or plumbing needed adjustment. Every project came with a story and many found their way to the greenhouses and engine rooms of his youth with his well worn lesson that the activity can't be successful without "the right tools for the job".

Bill had lifelong friends with whom he embraced technology to stay in touch. He was the keeper of the family contact list and was sure to send an update when an address or cell phone number changed. He was so very grateful that he was shared the myriad milestones in words and pictures of his friends, family, extended family and their friends from the comfort of his armchair. He expected perfection from his professional sport teams and his in-game texts were legendary – and already missed.

In addition to his wife, Joan, Bill is survived by their children John and Robin, Susan and Steve, Joey, Billy and Diana, and Sally and Hassan. He is also survived by his sisters Joan Griffin and Marilyn Sullivan and loving nieces, nephews and cousins. He leaves 11 grandchildren Nicole, Steven, Lindsay, Lucas, Hannah, Kacie, Matthew, Benjamin, Zachary, Taylor and Danielle and five great-grandchildren Kaden, Spencer, Emerson, William and Josie. He was predeceased by his parents, his nephew Peter, niece Patty Jo and great-niece Katie.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on November 3rd at 11:30AM at the chapel on the grounds of the VA Hospital on Springs Road in Bedford Massachusetts (building 81) with Fr. Romain Rurangirwa officiating. There will be no viewing and a private interment with military honors will be held at the National Cemetery in Bourne, MA at a future date.

The Fitzpatrick family wishes to acknowledge and thank the residents and staff at the David James Hospice Unit at the VA Hospital where Bill spent his final days in their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the David James Hospice Unit, c/o VA Hospice 2C, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730 or the charity of your choice. Direct contributions sent to the Hospice address are used to fund patient activities, decorations and entertainment in the unit for which Bill was thankful.

Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.