Charles Fitzpatrick

Charlie Fitzpatrick, 81, of San Antonio, Texas, and Wilmington, New York, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2025, at his home in Wilmington. Celebrations of his life will be held at a later date in May at Holy Name Catholic Church in Au Sable Forks, New York, and in San Antonio, Texas.

Charlie was born in New York City (Bayside Queens), New York, on October 29, 1944, to John and Mary (Nolan) Fitzpatrick. He attended Xavier High School and then Fordham University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1966 and a Master of Arts degree in 1968. From 1968 to 1972, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army.

After an honorable discharge from the Army, he received a Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1975. He was a member of Phi Delta Phi and the John M. Harlan Society and served as an associate editor of St. Mary's Law Journal from 1974 to 1975. He was recently recognized by the State Bar of Texas as a 50-year member.

Charlie was Managing Partner of Egan, Fitzpatrick, Malsch & Lawrence, PLLC, having joined Joe Egan to form the firm in 2001. Prior to that, he was a senior partner in the Texas-based firm of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P., which frequently teamed with Mr. Egan's firm on large nuclear matters.

Charlie had significant experience in a broad range of civil litigation, including jury and nonjury trials, arbitration, and mediation involving federal and state antitrust actions, toxic tort cases, and litigation involving complex nuclear power plant construction and operation. He was admitted to practice in both state and federal courts including all state courts in the state of Texas, all federal courts in the state of Texas, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and D.C. Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court.

Charlie had many friends who have remembered him fondly, some of them saying, "we had a friendship with him that was both fun and valuable"; "I am going to miss that man; we had many a great conversations and he is truly one of a kind"; he was "A real friend in the old fashioned sense"; "Charlie was a friend that was enormously influential in protecting [his clients] for many decades"; I was "privileged to work with a good man and fine lawyer"; "Charlie was a lovely man and delightful to work with. He will be much missed"; "a mighty and giving soul has left us with a huge hole in our lives"; "I always knew that he was in my corner"; "I am grieved to hear about Mr. Fitzpatrick. I have many memories of long-distance conversations with him over the years"; and "He was a wonderful person, and I enjoyed visiting with him any chance I got. He was so warm and so knowledgeable about so many different things."

Charlie was predeceased by his parents and his son Chuck Fitzpatrick. He is survived by his wife, Linda Fitzpatrick, brother and sister-in-law, John and Myriam Fitzpatrick of Latham, New York, step-children Shawn Harper (Jenniffier) of Rockford, Tennessee, and Jennifer Harper Starr (Taylor) of San Antonio, Texas, and grandchildren Julia Harper Truair (Jared), Lauren Harper, Sydney Schermerhorn, and Addisyn Harper.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Jude's, the Humane Society, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements provided by Heidrick-Zaumetzer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 127, 3 College St., Au Sable Forks, NY 12912.