July
6, 2011 - John Fitzpatrick, president and CEO of the Fitzpatrick
Hotel Group, North America, which operates two hotels in New York City,
will
receive an honorary doctorate for services to business and commerce.
Norma
Sinte, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Queen’s, will
deliver
the citation for Mr. Fitzpatrick at today’s graduation ceremony. She
said,
“Fitzpatrick Hotels became the first Irish owned hotel company to
operate in
the United States after John Fitzpatrick moved from Ireland to New York
in the
late 1980’s to expand the family business.
“As
well as being an astute businessman, John is committed to charity work
in the
US and here in Ireland. Through a memorial fund set up in honor of his
late
parents, he has been instrumental in raising over €1.3 million for
various
charities, including the Corrymeela Community and Barretstown, an
organization
dedicated to bringing joy and comfort to children with cancer and other
illnesses in Ireland.
“In
August 2008 John received an OBE in recognition of his exceptional
contribution
to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and in 2010 he was
named Irish
American of the Year in recognition of his humanitarian and charitable
commitments. I am delighted that today he can add an honorary degree
from
Queen’s to that list of accolades.”