Raymond Robert “Bob” Fitzpatrick ….

Raymond Robert “Bob” Fitzpatrick 1937-2022

Raymond Robert “Bob” Fitzpatrick, 85, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on Feb. 24, 1937, and died peacefully in Orange County, California, in the presence of his loving family on Dec. 30, 2022.

In 1944, Bob, along with his sister Vivian and their parents Raymond and Margaret, moved from Chicago to Long Beach, California, where Bob attended several schools some of which included St. Matthews Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School and Wilson High School. Bob joined the U.S. Army in 1955 and was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division, 503rd Regiment, in Munich, Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1958, having earned a Parachutes Badge and Good Conduct Medal. He returned to Long Beach, where he met his future wife Joan and was hired as a coach at St. Joseph Elementary School.

By the time Bob and Joan married in 1959 at St. Joseph Church, coaching had become Bob’s other life’s passion, inspiring “Coach Fitz” to take classes at Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach, where he eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation studies with a minor in coaching, while his family grew to include Coleen, Tim and Shawn. In 1970, Bob and Joan opened University Trophies, a business that allowed them to combine their love for sports, family, and community. While Bob coached, Joan ran the dayto- day production, and today, 52 years later, University Trophies is still a thriving, family-owned business.

Bob went on to become the athletic director for the Los Angeles Archdiocese—Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), overseeing the Sports Department for 180 plus Catholic schools. After retiring from CYO, he returned to St. Joseph Elementary School, this time as a volunteer coach, and in 2006 he led the 7th- and 8thgrade flag football team to an undefeated season and the CYO championship.

For the past 25 years, Bob and Joan enjoyed living in Leisure World (11 years in Mutual 15, past 14 years in Mutual 7) spending time with family, and—of course—cheering on their favorite teams, most notably Notre Dame Football. Bob was a proud recipient of many honors and recognitions, including a Proclamation by the City of Long Beach, the Long Beach Century Club Ernie G. Pollman Memorial Award, Catholic Charities Employee of the Year, CYO Hall of Fame and Legends Sports Bar Wall of Fame. Lastly, St. Joseph Elementary School paid the ultimate tribute to Coach Fitz by naming the school’s athletic field “Fitz Field.”

Bob is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joan Fitzpatrick; daughter Coleen (Fitzpatrick) Followell; sons Tim Fitzpatrick and Shawn Fitzpatrick (Carrie Fitzpatrick); sister Vivian Kiley; granddaughter Shauna Followell; and countless others whose lives he touched. Bob leaves behind a legacy of love and invaluable life lessons, and he will live in our hearts forever.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 6220 E. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 90815 with an off-site reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Fitz’s memory to St. Joseph Elementary School in Long Beach.