By ARIELLA MONTI
The disease was diagnosed in the summer of 2007. He is survived by his wife, Madeline Glynn Fitzpatrick, and their five-year-old daughter Maddie, who is a kindergartner at St. Agnes Cathedral Elementary School.
In an interview with Cal Fussman that was printed in the March 2008 issue of "Esquire," Fitzpatrick described his battle with the disease and included his intimate thoughts on his loving family. "Everything weakens so gradually you almost get used to it," he explained. With the illness slowly crippling his body, he conducted the interview with Fussman via email because talking had become difficult. Fitzpatrick fought to maintain a normal lifestyle while his sickness progressed. Even though it took a significant amount of time, he continued to dress himself and put on his shoes before being fed breakfast through a feeding tube.
As his condition worsened, Fitzpatrick continued to look on the bright side of the disease. "A.L.S. affords you the opportunity to do some of the things you've always wanted to do," he said. "It gives the people who love you the opportunity to let you know how they feel while you can still interact with them."
His devoted spouse Madeline supported him throughout his sickness, helping him whenever daily activities became difficult. She urged him to write letters to their daughter, Maddie, so that she would know the man that was her father. "All she knows is the dad that's always tired," he said. "I'd like Maddie to know that I love her and her mother very much."
He said that he'd always been the prime rib and potatoes kind of guy, washed down with Grey Goose martinis. He played college soccer and was voted co-captain by his teammates in his senior year for playing hard and hustling. His career on the field ended when he was injured during the first game of that year. Every year since 1990 he played golf with the same group of guys, but often forgot the many places they had played. He prided himself on his integrity, honesty and hard work, which helped him achieve his success.
He said that by far, the highest point in his life was the day his daughter was born. Learning from his experiences and from always playing it safe, he said he wants his daughter to never be afraid to take chances. But Fitzpatrick said he had no regrets, because "every decision I made in my life led me to Madeline and Maddie."
A Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated at St. Agnes Cathedral on May 5. Interment was at the cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury.
