10 Dec Chicago’s Coolest – Tony Fitzpatrick

I moved to Chicago in January of 1986 – not a great time to move to the Windy City, but that’s another story. Outside of my husband and his two sons, I had few friends or relatives nearby. It was a tough transition, but I did have a career that required a 45-60 minute commute each way. I soon became an avid fan of WLUP and their hosts Johhny B, Steve and Garry etc. Through this radio connection I quickly learned more about the city I now call home. 

This is how I was introduced to Tony Fitzpatrick, not through his amazing talent as an artist, but through listening to him as a guest on the radio shows. I learned about the extensive art scene in Chicago – the music, the museums, entertainment, and food all through Tony. I thought he was the coolest guy in the city of Chicago. He was witty, and worldly but so grounded in his Chicago roots. Everytime he was on air I turned up the volume! 

He made my transition to becoming a true Chicagoan so enjoyable and fun! 

Fast forward to more current times, where DJs and radio shows are long gone, displaced by podcasts and social media. I lost track of Tony until one cold Winter day he stopped in our store by happenstance.  Our family’s business, The Barn Owl, is focused on gardening, as well as wild bird feed and other birding needs.  

So to see him in our store was quite a surprise as I knew his life story as an artist and activist for Chicago, but I didn’t know he was a huge birder. After walking through our bird section, he was giddy with excitement stating, “this place is like cocaine for the birds” Of course, I agreed!  After that visit he became a loyal customer. 

He wasn’t just an artist, he was a storyteller, a historian of the streets, a champion of the weird and wonderful corners of Chicago. Through Tony, I learned about the city’s vibrant art scene, its music, its food, its cultural heartbeat.

I certainly did not knowTony well but I would guess his love of the arts was matched by his love for birds. I’ll close with this from a true Chicago legend:

“Birds are worth fighting for, as are humans, as are all living things,” he wrote. “The world will be saved if people show up.”

RIP Tony.

– Jacki Hudmon