Citrus: School attorney dies of cancer

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School attorney dies of cancer

Richard "Spike" Fitzpatrick died Monday night with family by his side.

By EDDY RAMIREZ
Published March 21, 2006

Richard Spike Fitzpatrick was the attorney for the Citrus County School District for 28 years.

Today's Times: School attorney fights cancer

Richard "Spike" Fitzpatrick, a prominent Inverness attorney who represented the Citrus County School Board for 28 years, died Monday night (March 20, 2006) at Citrus Memorial Health System. He was 57.

Mr. Fitzpatrick had battled cancer the past several years. School officials said Tuesday he died with family by his side.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

A Citrus native, Mr. Fitzpatrick gained local prominence as an attorney in Inverness. He earned the nickname the "sixth board member" during his almost three decades as School Board attorney.

A Citrus High School graduate who lettered in four sports, Mr. Fitzpatrick went on to coach youth sports for years.

Mr. Fitzpatrick served four years with the U.S. Navy. After attending the University of Mississippi on an academic Naval scholarship, he earned a law degree from the University of Florida law school, where he was named Graduate of the Year in 1976.