Paul Bass Photo
One of New Haven’s longtime civic leaders, F. Patrick McFadden, Jr., died over the weekend at the age of 78.
McFadden (pictured at the 2009 ribbon-cutting for the Smilow Cancer Hospital) was a leading banker — at First Bank, Connecticut National — as well as an influential member of the most powerful boards in town, at institutions like Yale-New Haven Hospital (for 37 years, including a stint as chairman), Untied Illuminating (also as chairman), the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, and South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. He also gave his time to the boards of many other groups, such as Hamden Hall, the New Haven Symphony, and Goodspeed.
McFadden’s rise coincided with a time when banks and utilities had more local roots, a time when corporate leadership carried with it an expectation of community service.
He enjoyed the public sphere — a “remarkable and proud Irishman with a quick wit, a fierce sense of loyalty to his family and friends who “never turned down an opportunity to help others,” as his official obituary put it.
McFadden is survived by his wife, Dana Davison McFadden, his children and their spouses, Mary Carroll McFadden and Jill Schwartz; Francis “Trip” and Kristin McFadden; Mark and Katie McFadden; Christopher and Jennifer McFadden; Sheilah McFadden; Luke and Marguerite McFadden; DG and Brette Fitton; Peter and Dempsey Fitton; and Ashley Fitton and Rob Vitari; and 11 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Jo McNellis McFadden.
Visitation for family and friends will be held at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St., Centerbrook, on Thursday from 5 — 8p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday at St Margaret Church, 25 Academy St. Madison, at 10 a.m. Interment will be private. Leave condolences or share memories here. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Martin de Porres Academy of New Haven, 208 Columbus Ave., New Haven, CT 06519.
