I'm terribly sad to learn about the death of Chicago artist, writer, actor, activist, raconteur, and lover of birds, dogs, the Incredible Hulk, and so much more (the descriptors and superlatives can truly go on forever) Tony Fitzpatrick. He was one of our best, which I say as a transplant and human. I will not stake any claims to being friends with Tony, but I knew him for a long-time, I idolized him long before I met him (and that never stopped), and as so many are writing today, few were as kind or generous to fellow creatives as Tony was. The first time I met him at a fair of some kind so many years ago, I introduced myself and he said, yeah, Ben Tanzer, the short story writer, I know who you are. Something I took much too much pride in. Over the years I went to his openings, popped into his studio, ran into him at concerts (fellow icon Ike Reilly's in particular) and saw him at countless festivals, and he always stopped to talk, ask me about my work. regale me with stories about what he was up to, and would inevitably need to introduce me to someone who was passing by or through and had to say hello to him, and always said, this is Ben Tanzer, he's a great Chicago short story writer (something I also took a little too much pride in). While I could never seem to get Tony as a guest on This Podcast Will Change Your Life, which is a regret of mine, what I don't regret is attending the opening of his show Songbirds and Crucifixions last weekend at Great Lakes Tattoo with friend, writer, and fellow Fitzpatrick fan Pete Anderson. Tony made an appearance from his hospital room via Zoom and had the same hopeful energy and welcoming spirit he always possessed. I asked him if he was still able to see visitors and he said, not this coming week, but yes, maybe the week after that. That visit is not going to happen, not for me or so many others who will terribly miss him. His legend, grace, and work will live on though and we're all the better for it. All the love Tony and Godspeed as you head into the light.
