Jerome J. “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, 86

     Jerome J. “Fitz” Fitzpatrick passed away on August 6, 2026, at home, surrounded by those he loved. Born on July 26, 1940, in South Boston, Massachusetts, Fitz was the son of the late Jeremiah and Ester Fitzpatrick.
     Raised in the close-knit neighborhoods of South Boston, Fitz developed a lifelong devotion to family, community, and his beloved Boston Red Sox. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, beginning a 21-year career. He served in Vietnam and later was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. It was there that he met Mary, from Ireland, “his wild Irish rose”, who was also working at the air base. Together they built a family while the Air Force carried them across the world, from New York to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, to Taiwan, and finally to Dover, where Fitz retired as a Master Sergeant.
     Never one to sit still, Fitz continued his commitment to public service after his military retirement. Using the GI Bill, he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Delaware State University while working for the State of Delaware in the Office of the Auditor of Accounts. He dedicated another 21 years to the State before retiring in 2000.
     Fitz was proud to be one of the original members of the Irish Society of Delmarva and cherished Irish culture, music, and community. He played softball at every air base where he was stationed and later joined the Auditor’s softball team. A natural mentor, he coached his children’s sports teams and taught neighborhood kids how to play halfball. His competitive spirit never faded, he was a gold medalist in the Delaware Senior Olympics for the Free Throw and approached Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Wordle, and the daily New York Times crossword puzzle with the same determination.
     Above all, Fitz will be remembered for his unwavering loyalty to Boston sports, his generous heart, and his steadfast belief that just about anything could be fixed with duct tape. His humor, resilience, and devotion to those he loved will remain with all who had the privilege of knowing him.
     In addition to his parents, Fitz is preceded in death by his wife, Mary, his son Dan, and his grandson Daniel.
     Fitz is survived by his daughters “the girls”, Kathy (Kent) of Dover, MaryPat (Shawn) of Townsend, and Sheila (Kenny) of Magnolia; sister, Noreen Craig of Abington, MA; grandchildren, Steven, Brendan, Charlotte, Hunter (Makayla) and Paige; great grandchildren, Lucas, Riley and Reagan and nieces and nephews Dolores, Richy, Billy and Elaine – “the cousins, from Boston”.
     The girls would like to thank the staff at Bayhealth, Eden Hill, Bayada and the amazing nurses at Delaware Hospice for the wonderful care they provided for our Dad.
     Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E Lebanon Road, Dover, DE. Family and friends may gather an hour prior to the service. The interment will follow the service at Holy Cross Cemetery, 414 North New Street, Dover, DE.
     In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Delaware Hospice at delawarehospice.org/give