Richard Fitzpatrick

Richard Lee Fitzpatrick was born on December 24, 1937, in Atlantic City, NJ, to the late Mary Lee (Little) Fitzpatrick and Ceaphus Fitzpatrick.
At an early age, Richard, along with his brother, Sylvester and their parents, moved to Akron, OH. He completed his high school education at North High School in 1956.
In 1958, Richard accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and became a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Akron, OH. Richard continued his education at Akron University and in
1962, became the Akron University Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Polemarch.
In 1963, he along with lifelong friend, Malcolm Blanchard, became the first African Americans to successfully complete the competitive Tool and Die Trade Apprenticeship for the Chrysler Corporation. Richard became the Co-Owner of the Manhattan Club in 1969, which he ran for 4 years. During that same time, he was a founding member of the V.I.P. Group, a community service and social organization in Akron.
In 1974, Richard received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Akron University and became the Controller for both the Model Cities Program and Parker Hannifin Ohio. He then relocated to Cincinnati, OH in 1977 where he worked in and retired from the Accounting Department of Cincinnati Bell as a Systems Analyst. Richard started his final career as a Tax Examiner at the Internal Revenue Service where he retired from in 2003.
Richard was best known for his intelligence and strong work ethic, his witty sense of humor and infectious laugh, and his love of sports. His greatest joys were his children, grandchildren, great-grands, nieces and nephews. He relished in their achieve- ments and triumphs.
Richard departed this life on August 6, 2014. His children, Pamela Larrise Fitzpatrick and Richard David Fitzpatrick pre- deceased him.
Richard leaves to cherish his loving memories: sons, Michael Ricks (Denise) of Akron, OH and Perry L. Fitzpatrick (Stacey) of Laurel, MD; daughters, Kimberly Ramsey (George) of Akron, OH, Sheryl Johnson (Dennis) of Columbus, OH and Paula A. Harris (Edgar) of Cincinnati, OH; 13 grandchildren, Tifany, Tyanna, Ashley, LaWanda, Sparkle, Lance, Skyler, Perrin, Dennis Jr., Zion, Miles, Blake and Layla; three great-grandchildren, Daedrian, Nyasia and Saige; brother, Sylvester Fitzpatrick (Ola) of Akron, OH; sister, Kimberly King of Akron, OH; and many loving nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.