Longtime trustee dies at 85

Liberty University lost its second Board of Trustees member this year. Complications from diabetes claimed the life of Rev. Richard Herbert Fitzpatrick, Saturday, Feb. 11, according to his obituary on Oakey’s Funeral home website.

Fitzpatrick, 85, was put on the board of directors in 1976 for the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS), according to Dr. Elmer Towns. When the theology school’s board of directors was combined with Liberty’s regular board, Fitzpatrick made the transition, Towns said.

Fitzpatrick had been a friend to Towns since before the founding of Liberty. He was a very quiet man, Towns said, and never tried to take over a room.

“He could lead from the subordinate role. He never played himself up as a big dominate preacher,” Towns said.

According to Towns, he featured Fitzpatrick in his book, America’s Fastest Growing Churches, after Fitzpatrick caught his eye.

“He’s wonderful one-on-one and he loves everyone,” Towns said.

Fitzpatrick was described by Towns as being a man of sterling character, having a reserved nature and being able to connect with people.

“They say he was the very best hospital visitor. He would go through the hospital and go talking to people, praying with people, encouraging people,” Towns said.

According to Towns, Fitzpatrick first gained his attention while he was preaching at Calvary Baptist Church in Connersville, Ind. Fitzpatrick took the church in the small farming community and watched it grow to over one thousand members. After moving to Maryland, Fitzpatrick was the reason for growth of an even larger scale at Riverdale Baptist Church.

“To build two mega churches is a pretty big thing,” Towns said. “(The church) grew from 400 to 2,000 in a couple years, that was just outstanding. He did it just based on his character and his person.”

The late Fitzpatrick continued to build big when Liberty was suffering financially in the late 1980s. According to Towns, Fitzpatrick loaned the university roughly $1 million during that time.

After a few strokes and a heart attack, Towns said, Fitzpatrick’s death did not come as a shock. Instead, there was relief.

“When people suffer, you’re happy that they’re going home to be with the Lord. So I was happy for him when he died,” Towns said.