Daniel Leo Fitzpatrick

It all started in Cohoes, NY on July 3, 1940. Daniel Leo Fitzpatrick was born at the home of his parents Edward and Beatrice. Dan's Family included older brothers Ed and Jack, older sister Mary and younger brother Tom. There was a lot of love in the small house on Imperial Ave. as there were several generations living together in the house on the hill.

Dan's life-long love affair with the automobile began as a teenager when he worked as a detailer for a local used car salesman.

In 1960, after numerous unsuccessful attempts, Dan's persistence paid off and Betty Kearney of nearby Mechanicville reluctantly agreed to go with Danny and a group of friends to the State Fair in Syracuse - Betty sat in the backseat on the way to Syracuse - she drove back from the fair up front next to Dan - it was the start of a beautiful relationship.

On September 9, 1961 Dan and Betty were married in a beautiful ceremony in Mechanicville and they settled in nearby Waterford. In June of 1962 the young couple brought home their first child, Lynn. In 1963 the three moved to a flat in Cohoes and welcomed daughter Colleen in May of that year. It was around this time that Dan took an entry-level position at the Cluett Peabody textile plant in nearby Troy.

In 1965, after repeatedly impressing his supervisors in Troy, Dan was offered a position at the company's headquarters in Manhattan. The young family embarked on their great adventure and took an apartment in Flushing, Queens. In 1966, work was going well, but the small apartment was proving to be problematic. It was after a weekend visit to a supervisor's house in Babylon, Long Island that Betty and Dan's eyes were opened to a new world - in November of that year the family purchased and moved into their first house - the Fitzpatrick's were home!

In June of 1967 the family grew again as they welcomed home Michael. As the family grew, the house shrank, and in 1972 they moved to a home with a lot of "potential" in the Argyle Park area of Babylon. The years ahead brought many projects, renovations and alterations, but for nine years the Fitzpatrick home was the place to be.

Dan's career was taking off. His strong work ethic and his drive to provide for his family led to several promotions and increased travel. In the 1970's and 80's Dan saw much of the world, and was in fact the President of the Hong Kong office of Arrow Shirts and oversaw all of the offshore marketing and manufacturing that took place there.

Despite the fact that Dan's job demanded that he be away for up to 50% of the year during this period, Dan managed to make every minute that he was home with his family count. The family became avid skiers and spent nearly every winter weekend at the snow. In the summer months the family spent their time together on the water on their boat "Micolyn".

Upon Colleen's graduation from Babylon High School in 1981, Dan and Betty felt that it was time for a change of scenery and moved themselves and Michael to an 18th century farmhouse on 3 1/2 acres in Connecticut. It was a year and a half later that Dan was offered the opportunity to run Cluett Peabody and Arrow Canada. In December 1982 the trio moved to Toronto.

The family lived in Toronto until the fall of 1986 - Michael went onto University in St. Catharines Ontario and Betty and Dan returned to Westport, Connecticut - just in time for a surprise 25th wedding anniversary party.

In 1989, after 27 years with Cluett Peabody, Dan took a position with a former rival in Toronto. Once again, Dan and Betty found themselves in the Great White North.

In 1990 Dan and Betty returned to Westport - Dan pursued employment and ended up accepting a position with a company headquartered in Anaheim California. California fit Danny and Betty immediately. It was a new beginning - Betty and Danny had arrived in Corona Del Mar - they had found what they had been searching for.

Shortly after arriving in Corona Del Mar, Dan grew tired of "corporate America" - he decided that it was time for a change of pace, it was at this time that he and Betty went into business for themselves when they purchased a Minuteman Press in Costa Mesa. For 15 years the pair called the shots and enjoyed their lives - in 2007 it was time for the next chapter : retirement.

As many of you know, retirement can be "too much of a good thing" and for the last three years Dan worked part time as a porter at Newport Imports. The job allowed Dan to pursue a couple of his passions - he was surrounded by beautiful automobiles and he got to interact with a variety of people.

Dan passed suddenly in his sleep shortly after going to bed in the early hours of July 25th. We take comfort in the fact that he had just spent a wonderful Sunday in the place that he loved with his beloved Betty and their grandson Evan