Janet & Richard Fitzpatrick Elementary Education Scholarship
Janet Fitzpatrick was born in Wisconsin February 18, 1935, Janet spent the 1st fourteen years of her life in Milwaukee where thanks to her mother’s influence; she learned her love of reading and books at the Milwaukee Public Library. Janet’s family moved to the family farm near Brownsville, Minnesota, where Janet attended high school in Caledonia, Minnesota, Janet was honored to be named Co-Valedictorian of her Caledonia, Minnesota High School Graduation Class of 1955., While attending Winona State College, Janet was able to afford to complete her education degree because she was awarded the full tuition Etta Hudson Howell Scholarship from Winona State College annually from 1955 to 1959. Janet has not forgotten her college scholarships made all the difference in the world in enabling her to attain her teaching degree. In fact, she may not have thought of attending College would it have not been for the scholarship she was offered.
Starting out her career as a third grade teacher and school librarian, for thirty-two years, retiring from Rochester Minnesota Public Schools in 1993. For the next nine years, Janet served as the Reference Librarian for the Rochester Public Library culminating a forty-one year career in teacher education and library science.
Celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2011, Dick & Janet met while riding the Caledonia school bus. Their first date was at a family wedding to which Dick was a groomsman. However, the bridesmaid did not show up for the rehearsal dinner and Janet found herself a replacement for the absentee bridesmaid. Dick & Janet walked down the aisle on their first date.
Following a three year naval military service enlistment where Dick served as an electrician on a submarine tender, Dick used his GI Bill to graduate from commercial aviation school. Using his GI Bill again, Dick went on to complete a BA Degree at Winona Sate College in 1973. Growing up on a farm, flying planes, and landing an assembly job with Rochester IBM, Dick and Janet decided to build a home a five acres of wooded property west of Rochester. Dick built their home with the help of a local contractor. Incorporated into the landscape is Janet’s “Story book garden”, featuring children’s favorite flowers such as the “Little Red Hen”. Dick continued tin residential construction for the remainder of his career.
Janet & Dick enjoy world travel, music, theatre, bird watching, animals especially their family of house cats along with their outdoor wild animals, gardening, motorcycle riding and of course, first and foremost, reading. Janet is conducting genealogical research and writing a book about her family with her sisters.
Dick is an active volunteer with the Paws and Claws Humane Society, volunteering with the care of animals, cleaning the kennels, and working with fundraising activities benefitting the humane society. Together they enjoy family celebrations and events.
Scholarship contacts are Janet & Dick.