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Politics & Government

Longtime Staffer to Tom LaBonge Dies

The councilman will host a celebration to honor John Marshall High School graduate Rory Fitzpatrick next Thursday at the Griffith Park Visitors Center Auditorium.

City Councilman Tom LaBonge Saturday announced the death of a longtime staffer.

Rory Fitzpatrick died Sunday in his sleep after struggling to recover from a heart attack nearly three years ago and subsequent surgeries to repair his heart. He was 66.   

Fitzpatrick, a Silver Lake native and boyhood friend of LaBonge, served as the 4th Council District's head of constituent services for nearly a decade.

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Fitzpatrick grew up in Panorama Terrace and graduated from John Marshall High School, where he was an all-star baseball and basketball player as well as an avid surfer. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in political science.

Fitzpatrick worked for 30 years for the Automobile Club of Southern California. After retiring, LaBonge asked Fitzpatrick to join his office in 2001 as Chief of Field Operations.

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"Rory was loved by everyone in City Hall as well as in the community," LaBonge said. "He cared about getting services to the people and will be sorely missed."

Fitzpatrick is survived by his wife of 43 years, two daughters and grandchildren.

LaBonge will host a celebration to honor Fitzpatrick next Thursday from 2-4 p.m. at the Griffith Park Visitors Center Auditorium, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive.

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