FITZPATRICK, Dr. John Edward “Ed” Jr.

Dr. John Edward “Ed” Fitzpatrick, Jr. Apr 19, 1925 – Oct 23, 2015 Died Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, at his home in Austin, Texas. The power of Ed’s presence, patience, and prayers will be missed by all who had the honor of knowing him. Humble in demeanor, he had a gentle nature and quick, wry sense of humor that drew people in. He was beloved by his family, old friends, and the new friends he continued to make to the time of his death. His humaneness and compassion especially showed through in his commitment as a physician to his patients, and his family frequently was touched by the heart-felt responses he received. Ed’s character surely was formed by his profound sense of faith, family, and place. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Rose Whalen Fitzpatrick and John Edward Fitzpatrick, Sr., on April 19, 1925. His 90 years included strong roots in the community from his Fitzpatrick and Whalen ancestors and, for 64 years, from his marriage to Jean Fitzpatrick, of the McMahon and Heafey families. The sacramental celebration of Ed’s faith-filled life will be at St. Cecilia Cathedral in the parish where he attended grade school, served as altar boy, had many great friends and adventures, and married Jean. After St. Cecilia’s Grade School, Ed attended Creighton Preparatory School, graduating in 1943. He enlisted in the US Navy where he served as Fireman 1/C in the submarine service until April of 1946. During part of his Navy service, he took courses at the University of Notre Dame and continued to live the thrill of being a true Fighting Irish fan right into the 2015 season. After his Navy service, he returned to Omaha to enter Creighton University where he had begun taking courses during his high school years, and he continued there until receiving his medical degree in 1952. He completed his internship at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha in July of 1953. In 1953 Ed and Jean moved to Holstein, Iowa, where he practiced for a year and he and Jean made lifelong friends. They returned to Omaha in 1954-57, where Ed joined the internal medicine practice of his friend and mentor, Dr. John D. Hartigan. Ed went on to complete a three-year surgical residency at St. Louis County Hospital in Clayton, Missouri, and then returned to Omaha to practice as a general surgeon from 1960-65 and serve as a clinical instructor at Creighton School of Medicine from 1962 to 1965. In 1963, Ed became a Diplomate with the American Board of Surgery and, in 1965, became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, in which he held statewide roles during his career. Also in 1965, Ed became Chief of the Surgical Service at the VA Medical Center in Grand Island, Nebraska. Ed remained at the V.A. for 25 years and received a number of commendations for his service to veterans. During those years, Ed built lasting friendships with co-workers, neighbors, and members of Blessed Sacrament Parish, as well as through his volunteer work, such as being physician to the sports teams at Central Catholic High School. There never was a question of Ed’s commitment to his family. The six Fitzpatricks had nightly dinners together, lined a pew at Sunday Mass, and shared school-related activities. Ed and Jean piled their four children, lots of suitcases, and food into the family vehicle for vacations to the Tetons, Montreal, and New England, as well as nearly annual trips to Lake Okoboji. Vacations to Okoboji began when the children were young and resumed later in life with five grandchildren. Although late bloomers on the ski slopes, Ed and Jean planned family ski vacations for more than 20 years. They also did the planning for several family trips to Ireland. Holidays—which always included St. Patrick’s Day—and birthdays at the Fitzpatrick home were shared, in earlier years, with Ed’s and Jean’s beloved parents, aunts and uncles and, in later years, grandchildren. Upon his retirement in 1990, Ed and Jean returned to Omaha. Ed had remained close to his Omaha boyhood friends and their families throughout their lives and enjoyed renewing those relationships. He continued his service to others through volunteer work at Mercy Care Center and Sienna Francis House. Throughout the years, Ed maintained his slender physique with healthy eating and a daily exercise regimen which included calisthenics and light weights. During his Grand Island years, he typically biked or walked to work. He also regularly played tennis, jogged on his indoor trampoline, and seasonally cross-country skied or ice-skated. In Grand Island, he and his children would flood the back yard during winter to create a small ice rink. Even after his recent move to Austin, he kept up his exercise and continued practicing his golf swing. Though a city boy, Ed loved being outdoors. At his home in Austin, Ed looked over green, tree-covered hills and enjoyed identifying local bird species and occasionally spotting a deer. In his Grand Island days, he craved his hunting excursions with family and friends. He sometimes brought home a tasty bird or two, but he became known more for his witty, literate, story-telling with references to an amazing array of friends, experiences, and cultural notes, as well as for his resilience in walking long distances over rough terrain in often bitterly cold weather. To the end, Ed remained a caring and careful man. He took care of his relationships, of his appearance, of the gifts others had given him. Professionally and personally, he always valued substance over flash. He maintained classic suits, rather than buy new ones. He shined his own shoes. He kept his car well maintained. Solid basics. Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Jean; his parents, Rose and John E. Fitzpatrick Sr.; and his baby sister, Catherine Rosemary. He is survived by his children: Rosemary Fitzpatrick of Killeen, Texas; Jean Fitzpatrick of Kansas City, Missouri; John Fitzpatrick of Kansas City, Missouri, and Margaret Gallo of Austin, Texas; son-in-law, Andrew Gallo and daughter-in-law Laura Fitzpatrick; grandchildren: Grant and Gabrielle Gallo and Katarina, Ciarán and Isabel Fitzpatrick. VISITATION begins Thursday, October 29th at 5pm, with VIGIL SERVICE to follow at 7pm, all at the West Center Chapel. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL Friday, October 30th at 11:15am at St. Cecilia Cathedral. Interment, Calvary Cemetery with flag presentation by Benson VFW Post 2503. The family suggests memorials in Ed’s honor to: St. Cecilia Cathedral; Creighton Prep; Creighton University; KVNO (the public radio station which sustained Ed’s love of classical music); or the charity of your choice.

HEAFEY-HOFFMANN DWORAK & CUTLER Mortuaries and Crematories 7805 West Center Road Omaha, Nebraska 68124 (402) 391-3900

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