Presented in memory of Paul O’Dwyer, a native of County Mayo who served in the New York City Council and was a nationally recognized civil rights leader and defender of the Irish cause in the U.S.
Sean T. Fitzpatrick, a union leader and a proud Irish-American, is receiving the Paul O’Dwyer Memorial Award.
Born in Glen Cove, L.I., he was raised in Flushing as the fifth of six children born to Vincent and Pauline Fitzpatrick. Raised in a working-class Irish Catholic family, he traces his roots to County Clare and to Northern Ireland.
As a child, he looked up to father, who was an operating engineer for the City of New York and union member for over 50 years. From an early age he knew he wanted to become an electrician and a member of the I.B.E.W. Local Union No. 3.
After graduating from the electrical program at Thomas A. Edison Vocational H.S., Jamaica, he attended Queensborough Community College and then the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, where he earned certificates in management planning, advanced blueprint reading and estimating, high voltage splicing and advanced control wiring.
In 1984, he began his career with the City of New York Department of Environmental Protection, where he started as an electrician’s helper on the way to being promoted to an electrician and a supervisor.
For over 30 years, he has been a strong leader, worker and champion of the labor movement with I. B.E.W. Local Union No. 3. He began his union career as a member of the A City Division Negotiating Committee, and was later elected vice chairman and then chairman of the A City Division. In 2008, he was appointed business representative.
He currently represents all A City Division electricians, supervisors of mechanics, communication electricians, stationary engineers electric and the New York City electrical inspectors. He also holds certificates in health and safety and electrical education related to all aspects of the electrical industry.
He is a member of the New York City Municipal Labor Council and the New York City 220 Labor Coalition.
He and his wife of 27 years, Lynn Marie, reside in Manhasset Hills, L.I. Their daughter Meaghan Rose attends law school at Hofstra University, Hempstead.