Bahá’í World/Volume 20/Henry Bertron Fitzpatrick
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HENRY BERTRON FITZPATRICK
1943-4987
T hey that have forsaken their country in the path of God and subsequently ascended unto His presence, such souls shall be blessed by the Concourse on High and their names recorded by the Pen of Glory among such as have laid down their lives as martyrs in the path of God, the Help in Peril, the SelfSubsistent.
—Baha’u’llah2
We are often at a loss to adequately recount the greatness of a loved one who has winged his way to the immortal realm. Henry Bertron Fitzpatrick was only 44 years old when his third heart attack struck as he slept. He had told his beloved wife, Yvonne, countless times that he would never live to see the age of 50. His only desire was that the prayer he had copied and slipped into the end of his prayer book would come true: to die at his pioneer post, steadfast in the Cause of the Blessed Beauty.
Henry was born on 30 January 1943, the eldest of four children, to J ohn and Earlene Thomas F itzpatrick. His father distinguished
1 Bahd ’z' Prayers (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust,
1982), pp. 45-6. Quoted in Messages from the Universal House of Justice, p. 102
2
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Henry Bertron F itzpatrick
himself serving in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, and in his career with the US. Postal Service, receiving many notable awards. The Fitzpatricks raised their two boys and two girls on the south side of Chicago, a predominantly black neighborhood. Their family tree blended the roots of African slavery with an American Indian heritage, as John’s father was a member of the black Seminole tribe. Catholicism was the heart of their family life and the children’s schooling. Young Henry’s love for God and church blossomed well into his adolescence.
At 14, Henry entered a seminary for high school students in the State of Maryland. It was more than 1,000 miles away from home, but was the best school for him to pursue his religious yearnings. He had thus far developed a great reverence for the clergy, and were it not for a racial slur which one of the seminary clerics made against his ancestry, he might have continued his studies to enter the priesthood. Instead, he devised his own moral code of ethics, kept them as a standard in his own heart, and closed the door on any further religious pursuit.
THE Bahá’í WORLD
After finishing high school, Henry enlisted in the US. Air Force and worked as a pharmacist technician. While in the military, he was invited to a New Year’s Eve party in 1967. Henry enjoyed parties and was looking forward to a good time when he entered the home of his date’s friend. But as the moments passed he became acutely aware that everyone there was having a good time Without any signs of alcoholic beverages or drugs. On that night he was introduced to the Bahá’í Faith. He had never shared with anyone his formulated moral code, but after hearing the principles of the Cause of God, he embraced the Divine Standard of Baha’u’llah.
Henry was stationed for a period of time in Seoul, South Korea, where he had the privilege of meeting, working, and travelling to teach with the Bahá’ís of that community, and where he was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly. Upon his discharge from the Air Force, Henry returned to the United States and sought to pioneer in a community where he could further his education. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, he fulfilled this goal, and was able to complete his bachelor’s degree in the field of education.
In 1969 Henry met and married a Bahá’í from Indiana named Yvonne Brown. The newlyweds left the prospering Cheyenne community, arising to pioneer to the neighboring community of Laramie to help save its Assembly.
Henry’s desire to pioneer never ceased; he yearned next to fulfill an international goal. It wasn’t long before the young couple reached the shores of J amaica with their two small children. They served the community for four difficult years, struggling to remain and support themselves at an isolated post. Although Henry was finally offered a better teaching position, he agreed with his wife to return to the United States to better provide for his family’s welfare, deciding to take the opportunity to further his studies as well.
True to form, Henry and Yvonne moved their family to another goal area, this time
IN MEMORIAM
settling in the heart of South Carolina where the mass teaching efforts were in need of consolidation. And, as prayed for, the family did prosper, multiplying from a daughter and son to four children with a set of twin girls!
Henry completed his master’s degree and obtained an educational specialist degree, finishing the course work for his doctorate. South Carolina was special for him, particularly as it gave him the chance to be near and work at the Louis Gregory Institute whenever he could. The Institute honored his wife and him with a plaque for meritorious service which he henceforth displayed proudly in his study.
Again Henry and Yvonne longed to return to the international field. Consulting the International Goals Committee they were directed to southern Africa; Henry accepted a post at the University of Transkei where he was appointed senior lecturer in .1978, progressing to Associate Professor and acting Dean of the Faculty of Education. In 1980, Henry had the distinction of serving on the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Republic of Transkei and held the position of Chairman in subsequent years.
Unfortunately, Henry’s condition of hypertension, the stress of work, and service to the Faith took its toll. He had two mild heart attacks in Transkei. He even ignored his second attack so he could drive to the university and give his students their assignment. Only after his duties were completed did he tell his wife of the attack, and then sought proper medical assistance.
After consulting With the Continental Board of Counsellors and his National Assembly, the couple decided for Henry’s health to pioneer to a neighboring state where the pressures might be easier. hi the small republic of Venda, geographically just beneath Zimbabwe, he accepted a comparable post and filled another pioneering need.
Henry was dedicated to his profession and gave it all he could as a Bahá’í. In
879
slightly more than one year, “Professor Fitzpatrick” captured the imagination and esteem of his Venda colleagues and students, attracting them with his magnetic personality. He always made time to listen to people, especially the Bahá’ís, and shared his opinion with genuine thoughtfulness. With his students he was always there to help, and yet never afraid to make them strive to earn their passing mark of distinction.
The news of his tragic passing on 11 March 1987 travelled quickly throughout the region. His memorial service was indeed a testimony of the truly Bahá’í character which he possessed. Friends, students, and colleagues travelled distances over 1,000 miles and from half a dozen countries to pay their final respects.
The Venda national radio station aired a program about Professor Fitzpatrick, with the University’s Dean of Education highlighting Henry’s deep religious convictions and professional outlook. The President of Venda sent his personal emissary to attend the memorial service, and the Rector of the University asked to be included in the program so that he too could express his regards for one whom he had come to respect and admire.
F ollowing Henry’s passing the Universal House of Justice cabled:
DEEPLY SADDENED SUDDEN LOSS DEDICATED SERVANT BAHA’U’LLAH HENRY FITZPATRICK. KINDLY CONVEY OUR LOVING SYMPATHY HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. ASSURE THEM OUR ARDENT PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS SOUL 131va WORLDS AND CONSOLATION THEIR HEARTS.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States of America and its International Goals Committee cabled the following:
WE JOIN YOU IN SPIRIT AS YOU OFFER
PRAYERS PROGRESS SOUL BELOVED HENRY
FITZPATRICK. HIS NINE YEARS TRANSKEI,
VENDA, WITH WONDERFUL WIFE BONNIE,
DEAREST CHILDREN KAREN, KEVIN, KATH
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ERINA, AND KENDAA ASSURE HIM LIMITLESS LAURELS POSTERITY. DEEPEST SYMPATHIES, GRATITUDE, LOVE.
Henry had achieved his heart’s desire, and fulfilled yet another goal, one established by the Master for every Bahá’í:
...ye must conduct yourselves in such a manner that ye may stand out distinguished and brilliant as the sun among other souls. Should any one of you enter a city, he should become the centre of attraction...s0 that the people of that city may cry out and say: ‘This man is unquestionably a Bahá’í, for his manners, his behaviour, his conduct, his morals, his nature, and disposition reflect the attributes of the Baha ’z's. ’ I
YVONNE FITZPATRICK AND JEFF ALBERT