Robert Fitzpatrick

Born November 10, 1942, in Portsmouth, Virginia, he was the son of the late Peter J. and Mary C. Fitzpatrick. He lived most of his life in Philadelphia and graduated from Father Judge High School in 1960 before entering the U.S. Navy that same year.

Bob was a hospital corpsman for 27 years, retiring as a Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman.

During his naval career he served in Viet Nam, Guam, Spain, Greece, Portsmouth, VA Washington, DC, and numerous ships. In the latter part of his naval career he worked as an optician and served as an optician to the White House during Richard Nixon’s term.

While in the Navy he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Navy “E” Ribbon, a Technical Service Medal Second Class, Two Navy Achievement Medals, a Navy Unit Commendation, a Sea Service Deployment ribbon, a Vietnam Service Ribbon, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign ribbon, a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation, a Navy Expeditionary Medal, and six Good Conduct awards.

He and his wife or more than 36 years, Ginger (Waltz) Fitzpatrick were married on August 30, 1975 in Leitersburg, MD at St. Paul’s Free Lutheran Church. They decided it was so much fun being married, they had their marriage renewed at St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church in Laurel, MD and later renewed their vows at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Waynesboro

Bob was a Past Grand Knight of Patuxent Council 2203 of the Knights of Columbus, a member of American Legion Post 60, and a member of St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church, all in Laurel, Maryland. He relished his Irish heritage and enjoyed Irish music. He also enjoyed thoroughbred horse racing, Keno, and trips to Las Vegas. He loved traveling and visited six continents and an untold number of countries. He also had a reputation for trying any kind of exotic food, dead or alive, but hating any type of pasta. Everyone will miss his sense of humor, fabulous blue eyes, great smile, and dollar bill tricks.

In addition to his wife he is survived by one daughter Kelly and her husband Geoff Owens of San Marcos, CA, and one son Brian Fitzpatrick of Columbia, MD; two brothers, Jerry Fitzpatrick of Philadelphia, PA and Peter Fitzpatrick of Salem, OR, and a number of nieces and nephews who absolutely adored their Uncle Bob, Uncle Rob and Bob-O the baton twirling, ballet dancing, wonderman.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Paul J. Fitzpatrick, Jr. and a sister Miriam (Bunny) Fitzpatrick Okolita.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2011 at Fleck’s Funeral Home, 7601 Sandy Spring Road, Laurel, MD. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 13th at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church, 114 St. Mary’s Place in Laurel, MD. Burial with full military honors will be held at 10:45 a.m. on Monday September 19th at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery in Owings Mills, MD. It was Bob’s request people celebrate his life over a cold beer.