Pastor emeritus at St. Bede in Ingleside dies at 87

The Rev. Robert J. Fitzpatrick, pastor emeritus at St. Bede Parish in Ingleside, died Tuesday at The Village at Victory Lakes in Lindenhurst. He was 87 years old.

"Fr. Fitzpatrick was a real legend at St. Bede," the Rev. Timothy Fairman, pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Palatine, said in a news release Wednesday from the Archdiocese of Chicago. "He was beloved by generations of parishioners and their families. He loved saying Mass and preaching and was especially devoted to helping the poor and needy."

Fitzpatrick was born in Chicago on December 31, 1927. After receiving his bachelor of arts and master of divinity degrees from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, he was ordained a priest on May 5, 1954 by Cardinal Samuel Stritch.

His first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Cletus Parish in La Grange, where he served until 1964. He then served as an assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in Waukegan from 1964 to 1973. Fitzpatrick was then assigned as chaplain at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan, where he served until 1984 when he was made associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Waukegan.

In 1986, Fitzpatrick was named pastor of St. Bede Parish in Ingleside, where he served until his retirement in 1992.

"One thing about Father was that he was a huge sports fan especially for the White Sox, the Bulls and, of course, Notre Dame," Fairman said.

Visitation for Fitzpatrick will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at St. Bede Church, which is located at 36455 N, Wilson Road in Ingleside. A wake will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. His funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Bede Church. Interment will be at St. Bede Cemetery in Ingleside.

Fitzpatrick is survived by his niece, Nancy Sabatini.