Bob Fitzpatrick on the CalArts campus in 1986. | Photo: CalArts archives
CalArts was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Robert J. Fitzpatrick (1940-2024), the Institute’s second president, on Sept. 30. He leaves behind an enduring academic and artistic legacy at CalArts, matched only by his creative drive and wit.
President Ravi Rajan sent an email to the entire CalArts community (faculty, staff, students, and alumni) about the loss of Fitzpatrick. In the remembrance, Rajan writes:
His time with us leaves a legacy that not only helped shape CalArts as we know it, but also the cultural landscape of cities including Los Angeles, Paris, New York, Chicago, and beyond.
The last time Bob was on campus, at CalArts’ 50th anniversary celebration last year, he talked about receiving a piece of advice within hours of arriving at CalArts to assume the presidency.
“Trust artists,” he was told. “Let them fail intelligently, and learn, and take risks. Give them the courage to try and to fail.”
He told me that piece of advice—to trust artists, and to allow them to take risks, try, and fail without fear—changed his entire approach to his CalArts presidency, and his life after. It also set the tone for CalArts from that point forward.
Documentation of the hijinks at the 1980 CalArts graduation. | CalArts ArchivesDocumentation of the hijinks at the 1980 CalArts graduation. | CalArts ArchivesThe ballon that President Bob Fitzpatrick piloted after graduation in 1980. | CalArts Archives
Fitzpatrick, a professor of medieval French literature and dean of students at Johns Hopkins University, was named president of CalArts in 1975 after the departure of first President Robert Corrigan and Provost Herbert Blau. It was during his tenure that the CalArts Character Animation program blossomed and the famed CalArts Jazz Program was founded in 1983 by bassist Charlie Haden, of Ornette Coleman Quartet fame, and pianist David Roitstein.
In advance of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Fitzpatrick was charged with overseeing the LA Olympic Arts Festival. The festival featured some 400 experimental and interdisciplinary performances from around the globe, as well as a number of CalArts students, faculty, and alumni.
The festival is remembered as a landmark in the cultural history of the city of Los Angeles, introducing LA to international arts communities—in many cases via CalArts. In a recentLos Angeles Times article, published at the start of this summer’s Olympics in Paris, classical music critic Mark Swed wrote about the 1984 festival being Fitzpatrick’s “brainchild”: “It was a festival meant less to glorify ourselves than to show us who and what we could be. It was a revelation.”
Fitzpatrick left CalArts in 1987, wooed by Disney to lead the new theme park Euro Disney in Paris.
As recently as CalArts’ 50th anniversary celebration in April 2023, Fitzpatrick returned to campus to take part in the joyous weekend. The Alumnx Council honored him by bestowing him with the Honorary Alumnx Award,given to non-alumni whose deeds and actions had a profound impact on the CalArts experience for students and alums.
Ravi Rajan and Bob Fitzpatrick at CalArts’ 50th Anniversary Weekend. | Photo: CalArts
“The profound impact that Bob Fitzpatrick had on CalArts during a pivotal time in its history cannot be overstated. His dedication was instrumental in the institution’s survival and growth, leaving a legacy that will endure in CalArts lore forever,” writes Trustee Dave Bossert, who served as the 50th Anniversary Reunion Committee chair. “We are deeply honored that we were able to recognize his contributions with the Honorary Alumni Award. Although his passing is a great loss to our community, his visionary leadership will always be remembered.”
During the 50th anniversary weekend, Fitzpatrick also participated in a panel discussion with alum Carey Lovelace (Music BFA 75) and President Rajan that looked back at CalArts’ five decades of existence. The stories that were told during that conversation were lined with memorable gems. Fitzpatrick remembered the administrative upheaval during CalArts’ early days, particularly the tension between maintaining an institution and pushing artistic boundaries. CalArts was not financially stable and was on the brink of closing multiple times. He also recalled nonacademic hijinks, such as swimming at CalArts’ pool one day and then having his clothes stolen by students. (Those two students showed up at the reunion panel and confessed nearly 40 years later.)
The stories of Fitzpatrick are legendary. During the 1980 graduation ceremony, one graduate pretended to cut off his own hand, which resulted in fake blood spurting onto Fitzpatrick’s suit. The student then got picked up by a helicopter and was flown away. Later, during the same ceremony, Fitzpatrick took to the air himself, piloting his own hot air balloon. However, he failed to make arrangements for his return to campus after he landed. He tried hitchhiking but no one would pick him up because he was drenched in fake blood.
Fitzpatrick leaves behind his wife Sylvie and children Joel, Michael, and Claire. A CalArts memorial is being planned for sometime in the future.
In the meantime, if you’d like to share your remembrances of Bob Fitzpatrick, please email communications@calarts.edu or leave a comment on this post.
Christine is the director of Content at CalArts, responsible for the Institute's editorial in both print and online platforms. In addition, she oversees CalArts' social media accounts. In her spare time, she writes about the Santa Clarita food scene at scvfoodie.com.
I just loved Bob Fitzpatrick. He was warm, open, interested and available to students. Since I graduated in 1975, we didn’t overlap much but he made me feel so positive about the future of CalArts.
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I just loved Bob Fitzpatrick. He was warm, open, interested and available to students. Since I graduated in 1975, we didn’t overlap much but he made me feel so positive about the future of CalArts.