Who are Tony Fitzpatrick’s wife and children? Family details explored following Chicago artist and writer's death at 66

Anthony Fitzpatrick, or commonly referred to as Tony Fitzpatrick, is survived by his wife, Michele Fitzpatrick, and his two children, Max and Gaby (Gabrielle). At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife and his children, according to reports from the Chicago Tribune.

Fitzpatrick passed away on Saturday (October 11) at the age of 66 due to a heart attack. He was at the Rush Medical Center in Chicago awaiting a lung transplant when he died.

Keep reading to know what his wife and two children have to say about Tony Fitzpatrick.

Tony Fitzpatrick's wife and children share their thoughts after his passing

Michele Fitzpatrick, who was married to Tony for more than three decades, was present at the hospital when her husband died. She told the Chicago Tribune about the kind of man her husband was:

"He was the love of my life. I am so incredibly grateful to have been able to share the past 35 years with him... He was such an optimist, always on the phone, checking in with all of his friends and family, wanting them to know that he loved them. He wanted to share his success with others and mentored so many young artists. I have been overwhelmed by the number of people reaching out to me, telling me they would not have a career if it had not been for Tony."

She also revealed:

"Without fail, every night Tony was in the hospital, his friend Dave Bonomi, the owner of Peanut Park, sent dinner for the entire nursing staff in the ICU at Rush."

Max Fitzpatrick, his son, is an actor and a filmmaker. He also co-hosted a podcast with Tony Fitzpatrick. He shared his father's inspirational and encouraging advice, saying:

"My dad was my world. I attached my string to him and went wherever he could take me. He showed me an entire world that said it was possible to be anything you want to be, so long as you do it with charm, humor, creativity, and style. His work ethic was second to none when it came to his art. All of his work was an adventure, and I will never forget him pulling me to the side and telling me stories for every single detail of one of his pieces."

His daughter, Gaby (Gabrielle), is an activist and a filmmaker. This is what she had to say about Tony Fitzpatrick:

"There isn't a museum, nor a stadium, not even an ocean large enough to fit all the words I'd write to describe my father, who was beloved by everyone he knew. He had a million best friends... He was my best friend. My confidant. He made everything we did together feel like a sort of expedition. Dinners. Art openings. Walks to the Humboldt Park lagoon."

She called Tony Fitzpatrick her best friend and described how he treated her with love during her teenage years. In her words:

"When I was a teenager, I was in trouble all the time. With everyone except for him. For I could do no wrong in his eyes. I swore, spat, smoked and shoplifted, and I was still his shining star... I have never felt alone in this life, because I have always had him. And I will never lose him. And he and I will always be a part of this great big world."

Tony Fitzpatrick's brother, Kevin, came to see him last Thursday. He flew in from Florida to see his brother a few days before he passed. Kevin is one of the eight surviving siblings. He told the Sun-Times:

"He was always very much a Chicago guy... He accepted it with all its blemishes and all its bruises. He saw the best in it. He would walk over and see nature in the Humboldt Park Lagoon. He would find the things he wanted in the city, and he defended it all the way to his death."

Kevin Fitzpatrick added:

"He was a guy who could concentrate while not concentrating. He would be at school and a lesson going on which he had little to no interest in and suddenly there would be 400 images in his mind that would bear on him, and he put them all in his collages and then he would tie them together... They were things that fascinated him, things that inspired him, things that happened to him every day. The ordinary became extraordinary to him."

Tony Fitzpatrick's death has left a deep hole in the hearts of those who loved him. He will be remembered not just for his art, but for the warmth, humor, and generosity he shared with everyone around him. His family's words show that his spirit, creativity, and love will live on in every story, memory, and piece of art he left behind.

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