Obituary for David N. Fitzpatrick
Bancroft – I was born November 22, 1937 in Quincy, Massachusetts. My parents were Don E. and Masha (Nelson) Fitzpatrick. My siblings are Don Earl, Jr., Richard (“Dick”), and Sandra MacDonald, though only Sandra survives me.
I attended public schools, served four years in the US Navy, went to college, then graduate school, and then became employed. In 1985 I retired from working for someone else and became a self-employed tree farmer.
Using Maslo’ hierarchy of needs: 1. Physiological (survival), 2. Safety (not worried about financial, health, etc.), 3. Love and belonging 4. Esteem (acceptance and valued by others), 5. Self-actualization (doing what you want to do, rather than having to do it) and 6. Meta needs, which I have no desire to explore at this time. It seemed my first years of life was stuck between meeting needs 1 through 4. If I could go back in time, I would like to have had different conversations with some of you rather than the ones we had, and also maybe change some of the decisions I made in those discussions I had with myself. Since I cannot return, all I can now say is I am sorry if I offended or upset some of you on some of the decisions I made in dealing with some of my own choices. However, I met a great number of people with whom I enjoyed their friendship.
Since I stopped worrying about “achieving needs” numbers 2, 3, and 4, life has been great. I now provide “nourishment” to the body (Need 1) then go off to enjoy the day (Need 5). Why worry about something you cannot correct, but more important do not want to get involved to do anything about. If you accept Frederick Perls statement, also known as the Gestalt Prayer, “I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it’s beautiful. If not, it cannot be helped.” Using this line of thought, needs 3 and 4 have been met. When this is read, I hope I have been able to continue “self-actualizing” to the end.
My burial shall be private. If anyone wishes to donate in my memory, I suggest to East Grand Health Center, 201 Houlton Road, Danforth, ME 04424, the Danforth Public Library, Central Street, Danforth, ME 04424, the Cary Library, 107 Main Street, Houlton, ME 04730, or to the charity of one’s choice.
I attended public schools, served four years in the US Navy, went to college, then graduate school, and then became employed. In 1985 I retired from working for someone else and became a self-employed tree farmer.
Using Maslo’ hierarchy of needs: 1. Physiological (survival), 2. Safety (not worried about financial, health, etc.), 3. Love and belonging 4. Esteem (acceptance and valued by others), 5. Self-actualization (doing what you want to do, rather than having to do it) and 6. Meta needs, which I have no desire to explore at this time. It seemed my first years of life was stuck between meeting needs 1 through 4. If I could go back in time, I would like to have had different conversations with some of you rather than the ones we had, and also maybe change some of the decisions I made in those discussions I had with myself. Since I cannot return, all I can now say is I am sorry if I offended or upset some of you on some of the decisions I made in dealing with some of my own choices. However, I met a great number of people with whom I enjoyed their friendship.
Since I stopped worrying about “achieving needs” numbers 2, 3, and 4, life has been great. I now provide “nourishment” to the body (Need 1) then go off to enjoy the day (Need 5). Why worry about something you cannot correct, but more important do not want to get involved to do anything about. If you accept Frederick Perls statement, also known as the Gestalt Prayer, “I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it’s beautiful. If not, it cannot be helped.” Using this line of thought, needs 3 and 4 have been met. When this is read, I hope I have been able to continue “self-actualizing” to the end.
My burial shall be private. If anyone wishes to donate in my memory, I suggest to East Grand Health Center, 201 Houlton Road, Danforth, ME 04424, the Danforth Public Library, Central Street, Danforth, ME 04424, the Cary Library, 107 Main Street, Houlton, ME 04730, or to the charity of one’s choice.