The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-27
BY THE OUT EASTER


 Just as you and l and all of us for that matter go through life and attain years of an existence, our friends begin to disappear, some through death, others mainly by just forgetting all about us. The friends of yesterday, in many in stances, forget the just and good deeds of man, and when death strikes at 8 good soul, they even forget the thought of kind word, or salute in the last opportunity there is for looking at one, even when he is unable to speak. We see it daily; we could cite many cases just like this, and even men, tion names of those befriended in the past, and yet forgetful of these deeds that helped them go along and live their lives just as they desired.
 A person died a short time ago, whose funeral deserved little more recognition than 1t got, we think. We refer to the death of Captain Daniel E. Fitzpatrick of the old Connecticut National Guard. Dan Fitzpatrick was prominent in the military life of Old Waterbury right up to the beginning of the first World War. Active, the head of Old Company G, he paraded at the head of his column for years, and took and accepted the plaudits of thousands, especially the Irish, as this fine unit of young men, main- ly sons of good old-time Irish men passed along the central streets, go- ing away to camp, coming home and upon many other occasions. Ii Dan Fitzpatrick had died 30 years ago, much more would have been printed than we found in the col umns of the Waterbury newspapers But then, history, locally, we feel, doesn't count these days.
 Anyway, we knew Captain Fitz- patrick; we greeted him almost daily as we observed him barely creeping along the sidewalk; he was old now; the years had started to show; he lacked the snap and activity of other years. But his mind was as keen as ever; he was a trained conversationalist; he was a gifted man; he was an educated man; he was interesting to listen to; and above all he was gentle man. We never knew the man per- sonally until after the turn of the century. But when we became ac- quainted, and he got to know us and trust us, he outlined the full history of the people with whom we were associated, and explained much of the happenings of Water bury in the old days. He outlined to us, the great annual concert and ball of Old Company G in the West Main street City Hall that was; how nearly every Irish family in the city was represented, pretty girls, handsomely costumed, young men, of high type, in their even- ing dress of tails, white gloves, etc., for in those days, it was Compul- sorry to appear as such upon the dance floors of such important af- fairs. And then he recalled the days at Mantle, the meeting place of all of the members of the Connecticut National Guard, four regiments, each having 8 brass band of it's own, and the great influx of Wa terbury people, and others at the maneouvers always held on Sun day and commonly known as Gov ernor'S Day.
 "Those were the days" Dan used to say, "when everyone in the city was interested in the military, when the mothers and fathers and sweet hearts of our members, always went to Mantle to greet them on this wonderful day when the Governor and his staff officially viewed the entire brigade"
 Not much was said concerning Dan Fitzpatrick's life, but he was an asset. Postmaster first and then the postmaster under the Democat- ic regime of years ago. It was his pleasant manner and cordial greet ing of people that prompted an un- successful attempt to keep him in office after the Republicans had elected their candidate for pres ident. But Dan had to step out; politics figured, and he joined the rest of the population as private citizen. For while he was in the real estate business. One of his many good acts was the part he played in the preliminary work of the organization for the construc- tion of Saint Mary's hospital. No one on the committee worked hard CT; no one gave up more time than did Capt. Fitzpatrick. He was will ling at any and all hours of the day. This was not only true of the hospital, but of other affairs held under the city auspices. He want ed to help, and never hesitated. The night of the great fire of years ago, he ordered out his company, after consultation with the city author ities. and he did the same when the old city hall was burned to the ground.
 Captain Daniel Fitzpatrick was city born. His people were among the leading of the Irish families of