Dennis Fitzpatrick, known as "Denny" or “Fitz'' to college friends and “Papa” to his family, passed peacefully at home January 28th in Orinda, California. He courageously fought a multi-year battle with both melanoma cancer and MDS, which ultimately progressed to cancer of the bone marrow cells, or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Dennis spent his last two weeks at home, with the support of Hospice East Bay, surrounded by his wife and two sons.

A native of California, Dennis was born in Glendale, California as the second oldest of five children. He lost his own father at the age of 17. After graduating from University of Oregon in 1967, Dennis began his career in banking in the Bay Area. Rising through the ranks, Dennis ultimately co-founded and built Pacific Valley Bank, serving as its President, from 1975 into the 1980’s, ultimately creating the largest independent bank in Silicon Valley at the time. In 1984, Dennis joined CivicBank of Commerce, an independent commercial bank based in Oakland and Walnut Creek, as President.

Fitz had the Irish “gift of gab.” In his later years, he traveled frequently with his children and grandchildren; from Lake Tahoe to San Diego, New Zealand to Vietnam, Sri Lanka to Myanmar. In his travels, Dennis took pleasure in meeting new people. He enjoyed engaging strangers in animated conversation and storytelling, making them laugh and smile, always with joy in his heart and a sparkle in his eyes. He was genuinely curious and interested in others and sought to brighten anyone’s day with his upbeat and resilient attitude.

A proud University of Oregon Duck, Dennis cheered on the Ducks football and men’s and women’s basketball teams. Later in life he was very much engaged in reading, golfing and following politics. Besides spending as much time as possible with family, he socialized with members of the Orinda Country Club and he was a member of Mount Diablo SIR Branch 8 (Sons in Retirement), and held the role of Assistant Treasurer 2016-2017 and Treasurer 2018-2019.

Preceded in his death by his brother John, and sisters Maureen and Ciel, Dennis is survived by his wife Peggy, sister Sharon, sons John and Michael, daughters-in-law Melissa and Tanya, and grandchildren: Kirin and Lily, Connor and Katherine.
In his memory, donations are encouraged to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate. Alternatively, please consider a donation to East Bay Hospice https://www.hospiceeastbay.org/development/donations  - our family especially appreciated the visits, support and empathy of Nurse Rose and others during this period.

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I remember you with a twinkle in your eye,

a true gentleman. 

Always ready with a smile and something nice to say,

your sense of humour, contagious.

Very clear in what you thought.

I miss your stories,

told by a dear man with zest and character.

You were such a force.

Proud of your sons,

warm, loving and generous as a parent and grandparent.

Adoptive father to your son’s wives. 

Every holiday would see you,

every weekend would call you.

So many great memories with you.

You made me more kind, caring,

considerate and playful.

You shaped me as a person.

I cannot talk about my life,

without talking about you.

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I wrote the above poem to my Dad. But the words are borrowed from friends and family, through condolence notes written and collected in the past week. Thank you all for your love and support. - John Fitzpatrick