Obituary of Katherine Dryer Fitzpatrick
Katherine Dryer Fitzpatrick
1922 - 2020
Katherine (Kay) Fitzpatrick left this life on July 5, 2020, at the age of 97.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Beulah Dryer, her sister,
Sylvia (William) Burkhart, and husband, Robert (Bob) Fitzpatrick. She is survived
by her daughters, Shari (Karl) Ronstadt, Shannon Fitzpatrick and grandson,
Collin Napper, as well as many nieces and nephews. Kay was born on October
12, 1922, in Cato, New York, and grew up in Rochester, N.Y. where she earned
her Bachelor’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music, later earning her
Master’s Degree from the University of Houston. She was trained and performed
at La Scala Opera in Milan, Italy. She played leading roles in opera in the U.S.
and Europe, including performances with the West German State Opera, the
Philadelphia La Scala and the Houston Grand Opera.
Kay first met Bob in New York City where he was working in Public Relations on
Wall Street and she was performing Operetta and Musical Comedy on
Broadway. Years later, Bob was stationed with the US Army in France, Kay was
performing with the Opera in Germany, and they married in Paris. Returning from
their honeymoon in Switzerland, they moved back to New York City, where their
daughter Shari was born.
Once their daughter was born, Bob and Kay decided to leave the city.
In 1959, Bob’s career in Public Relations shifted into the area of Energy, first
taking them to Shreveport, Louisiana, and then Houston, Texas. Kay’s career
continued to flourish, performing with the Shreveport Opera Company and then
the Houston Opera. It was in Houston that their daughter Shannon was born.
While the children were raised in Houston, Kay taught Music first at San Jacinto
College in Pasadena, Texas, and then the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
Passionate about animals, she always kept an eye out for strays and the house
seemed to be a place where dogs, cats and/or injured wildlife always had a
temporary home until their owners, adoptive parents or the proper care center
could be located. She passed this love of animals on to both her daughters,
who, along with her grandson, continue this work.
During the energy crisis in the mid 1970’s, Bob was appointed to a position with
the Department of Energy in Washington, DC., and the family relocated to
Alexandria, Virginia. At the conclusion of his appointment, Bob continued his PR
work for nuclear energy in the private sector and the family moved to Michigan.
In 1978, while Bob was working with “Consumer’s Power” in Jackson, Michigan,
Kay became interested in Hospice. She knew of “Hillhaven House” in Tucson,
the nation’s first “Free Standing” comprehensive Hospice. She came to Tucson
to learn, and, while volunteering at “Hillhaven” with her little dog, “Charlie
Brown”, she took related courses at the University of Arizona. Upon her return to
Jackson, she was a leader in founding Hospice of Jackson, Michigan, and
later held the position of Executive Director.
When Bob retired, they settled in Tucson where they were surrounded by
our inspiring mountains. As well as her music, Kay was incredibly artistic,
sketching and painting as a child, she took it up again at the age of
89, continuing well into her 90’s. She was an accomplished artist in the truest
sense of the word and never lost her curiosity about the world and beyond.
Kay was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
Her family wishes to express their deepest appreciation for the exceptional care
she received during her time at Desert Dreams Adult Care Home and to TMC
Hospice for all their help. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in
Katherine’s name to the Humane Society of Tucson.
