Obituary for Martin de Porres Fitzpatrick
Martin de Porres Fitzpatrick
December 20, 1952-January 20, 2021
FITZPATRICK, Martin de Porres, age 68, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey. A joyous life with a tough finish.
Martin was a writer and the author of two top-selling celebrity memoirs. For the last twenty years, he’d also been the tour manager for the acclaimed musical group Tommy James and the Shondells—a job he loved. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Martin attended Saint Francis of Assisi and Maternity B.V.M. parochial schools, Archbishop Ryan High School (class of 1970), and La Salle College. Martin’s love affair with the written word began before he could read, when his mother and father read him bedtime stories. In 2002, Martin realized his dream of becoming a professional writer when he published his first book, The Bitter End, a memoir about the famous Greenwich Village nightspot, co-authored by club owner, Paul Colby. For his second book, he collaborated with rock ‘n roll legend Tommy James on the best-selling memoir Me the Mob and the Music, which is currently in development as a feature film.
Martin is predeceased by his parents, William A. and Rita M.(nee D’Ambrosio) Fitzpatrick. He is survived by his loving daughter, Katherine (Kate) Elizabeth Petronaci, brothers William (Billy) and Bernard (Buddy), nieces Olivia and Natalie Fitzpatrick, fiancé Trina Dattolo, aunts, cousins, and close friends Sharon Petronaci and Tommy and Linda James. Martin will also be missed by many friends in the Cedar Grove community and the professional music scene.
Martin’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Tommy and Linda James for their love and support during this difficult time.
Services for Martin will be held on Thursday, February 25 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Catherine of Sienna Roman Catholic Church, 339 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, New Jersey 07009. Arrangements by the Aloia Funeral Home, 180 Harrison Avenue, Garfield, NJ (973-340-7077). Condolences visit aloiafuneral.com
December 20, 1952-January 20, 2021
FITZPATRICK, Martin de Porres, age 68, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey. A joyous life with a tough finish.
Martin was a writer and the author of two top-selling celebrity memoirs. For the last twenty years, he’d also been the tour manager for the acclaimed musical group Tommy James and the Shondells—a job he loved. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Martin attended Saint Francis of Assisi and Maternity B.V.M. parochial schools, Archbishop Ryan High School (class of 1970), and La Salle College. Martin’s love affair with the written word began before he could read, when his mother and father read him bedtime stories. In 2002, Martin realized his dream of becoming a professional writer when he published his first book, The Bitter End, a memoir about the famous Greenwich Village nightspot, co-authored by club owner, Paul Colby. For his second book, he collaborated with rock ‘n roll legend Tommy James on the best-selling memoir Me the Mob and the Music, which is currently in development as a feature film.
Martin is predeceased by his parents, William A. and Rita M.(nee D’Ambrosio) Fitzpatrick. He is survived by his loving daughter, Katherine (Kate) Elizabeth Petronaci, brothers William (Billy) and Bernard (Buddy), nieces Olivia and Natalie Fitzpatrick, fiancé Trina Dattolo, aunts, cousins, and close friends Sharon Petronaci and Tommy and Linda James. Martin will also be missed by many friends in the Cedar Grove community and the professional music scene.
Martin’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Tommy and Linda James for their love and support during this difficult time.
Services for Martin will be held on Thursday, February 25 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Catherine of Sienna Roman Catholic Church, 339 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, New Jersey 07009. Arrangements by the Aloia Funeral Home, 180 Harrison Avenue, Garfield, NJ (973-340-7077). Condolences visit aloiafuneral.com