Michael Fabrizio, executive director of the Morristown Parking Authority, and a central figure in the downtown renaissance, died suddenly on Tuesday night after the authority’s first in-person board meeting since the pandemic.
He had stopped briefly at Roots on South Street. As he was leaving, he said he needed to sit down for a minute by the back door.
“And he never got up,” said his friend and MPA colleague Greg Deal.
Fabrizio, 55, suffered from pulmonary hypertension, Deal said. A call was made to 911, and while awaiting paramedics, Deal called Fabrizio’s brother, a cardiologist, who instructed him on what to do. The next 10 minutes felt like an hour, he recounted on Wednesday morning, still stunned.
“I did everything I could,” Deal said. He had seen Fabrizio experience shortness of breath before, but his boss always bounced back. “It’s not supposed to end this way.”
Fabrizio leaves a wife and triplets, who are in college.
He also leaves a legacy of a transformed downtown, one that regularly makes New Jersey “best of” lists of vibrant places to live and work.
Fabrizio became executive director of the parking authority in 2017, after 22 years as the founding executive director of the Morristown Partnership, a nonprofit representing some 1,200 businesses in the downtown Special Improvement District.
During his tenure there, Fabrizio worked closely with the parking authority and town officials to enable redevelopment of the former Epstein’s department store.
That brought luxury condos and apartments, starting with 40 Park and The Metropolitan, circa 2010; and restaurants and shops, which have enlivened the area near the historic Morristown Green.
Fabrizio enticed the Woodmont development team to tackle the Epstein’s project, and he recruited retailers. George Fiore, who retired from the MPA in 2016 after nearly 30 years at the helm, presided over construction of the DeHart Street parking garage that made the build-out feasible.
At the parking authority, Fabrizio was shepherding another parking deck, for Municipal Lot 10, behind the post office. That project has been sidelined by the pandemic.
‘A DEVASTATING LOSS’
“This hurts…we’re all sick to our stomach,” Fiore said of the loss of his longtime friend, a man he described as fair-minded, humorous, and a devoted father.
Jennifer Wehring has worked with Fabrizio since 2005 and succeeded him as executive director of the Partnership. Her friend and mentor “laid a foundation for the revitalization of Morristown,” she said, and “worked diligently for decades to make Morristown extraordinary.”
For all his professional accomplishments, “he was a family man at heart,” Wehring added, extending condolences to Fabrizio’s wife Lisa and children Zach, Matt and Gabi.
“We’re all in shock. It’s a devasting loss to Morristown,” said Paul Miller, co-owner of the Just Jersey store. He worked with Fabrizio over the years at the Partnership.
“We were really lucky he chose Morristown to spend his professional career,” Miller said. “He came here in his early 20s, barely out of college. We’ve seen the transformation in Morristown over the last 20 years. A good amount of it is his hard work, and the projects and teams he helped make happen.”
Allison Larena, CEO of the Mayo Performing Arts Center, also expressed sadness and extended condolences to his family.
“Michael understood and appreciated the value of MPAC to the town, and we appreciated his enthusiastic efforts to grow Morristown into the bustling community it is today. More important, Michael was our respected colleague, a loving family man and our friend, and we will miss him,” Larena said in a statement.
Fabrizio shunned the spotlight, insisting on giving credit to others.
“That was one of the keys to his success,” said parking authority board member Margret Brady. “He had a way of not drawing attention to himself, yet making everyone comfortable. He was always willing to share the credit. He liked helping people.”
Fabrizio looked fine at the meeting, which had a celebratory mood because it was the board’s first face-to-face gathering since COVID, Brady said. There was popcorn, and someone expressed regrets about not bringing champagne.
It was a productive session, too, with progress on several parking issues, Brady said. She remembers remarking to another trustee about how much Fabrizio had grown in “an incredibly difficult job.”
‘COURAGE AND TENACITY’
Fabrizio had medical issues in recent years.
“He confronted them with courage and tenacity,” said Robert Goldsmith, attorney for the MPA and the Partnership.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Fabrizio was at his best: Engaged, focused, handsome, and “typically articulate,” Goldsmith said.
Fabrizio majored in English at Seton Hall University. Before coming to Morristown, he worked for a company that ran Special Improvement Districts in Bayonne and Perth Amboy, Goldsmith said.
In addition to his MPA duties, Fabrizio also was executive director of the Pompton Lakes Redevelopment Authority, and a consultant to West Orange, Goldsmith said. Fabrizio held a realtor’s license, too, and was affiliated until recently with the New Jersey office of TransWestern, the lawyer said.
Goldsmith said Fabrizio was the only person he knew to head a Special Improvement District, a parking authority and a redevelopment agency.
“He was really proud of that,” Goldsmith said.
Fabrizio loved Frank Sinatra, the Mets, and horror movies. Friends say he was a walking encyclopedia of medical information. He was a fishing companion of Mayor Tim Dougherty in upstate New York.
Miller always will remember Fabrizio’s child-like giggle with fondness. “It brought a smile to everyone’s face.”
Services will be in Mendham. The wake is on Monday, June 21, 2021, from 3 pm to 7 pm, at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road. A funeral Mass follows on Tuesday, June 22, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 8 West Main St.
The MPA board will have its second in-person meeting later on June 22…to discuss a search for Fabrizio’s successor. Fiore is likely to return as executive director on an interim basis, Goldsmith said.
This story has been updated with funeral details.
Michael was caring man. He always made me laugh. A great family man. A patriot to Morristown. He brought so much retail, restaurants and residential into Morristown. Micheal you will be missed !! God bless Rest In Peace
My heartfelt condolences to the Fabrizio family. I worked with Michael at the Morristown Partnership beginning in 2013. He was smart, patient and a pleasure to spend my days with; he very quickly became more than a respected colleague – but also a good friend. Like others have said before me, he was a loyal friend and someone who offered his time, thoughtful advice or would just lend an ear – whatever you may need – even when he wasn’t asked. Thankfully, when he moved on to the Morristown Parking Authority, right downstairs, I was lucky enough to remain in touch and friends with Michael. Our conversations were frequent and inevitably always led to family and our children who were similar in age. I know very well of his daughter and two sons’ many accomplishments and of his tremendous love for and pride in each of them. RIP Michael – I will value your friendship always.
Your story, Kevin, and all the comments that ensued capture Michael perfectly. Thank you. It warmed my heart to see photos and read comments in this story about some of his best friends and colleagues; Jennifer Wehring, Phil Del Giudice, George Fiore, Greg Deal, Pat Geary, Bob Goldsmith, Mayor Tim Dougherty, Marge Brady, Paul Miller, and many more. Michael was always accessible, unassuming, thoughtful and deeply loyal. His office at the Morristown Partnership (MP) or at the Parking Authority was always open to anyone to drop by and talk; always. Anyone interested in getting something started in the downtown business district over the past 30 years inevitably stopped in for a visit with Michael first. He was that instrumental in getting things done. However, Michael was first and foremost a loving and proud family man. His wife and three beautiful children were his absolute pride and joy. Extending my deepest sympathies to them, his extended family and dear friends in this great loss. I had the great pleasure and good fortune of working with him at the MP for years.
Michael was a gentleman. He treated everyone with kindness and respect
Like most who knew Michael well I’m at a loss for words upon his passing. He was not only a true friend and confidant but a highly talented professional who owns what Morristown is today. As a young man in 1994 Mike was hired by the Morristown Partnership Board of Trustees to lead us in the transformation of a lack luster downtown to the vibrant destination community we are today. I feel privileged and honored to have worked with him on a daily basis for all those years as a board member and Chair of the organization. Michael was the glue that held everything together all those years. I will miss him greatly and extend my sincerest condolences to his family and all who knew and loved him. May God bless him and his family.
Mike was a real good person!!! Never heard him say a bad word, I was very glad to know him!!!! Also GREAT to me, always had a kind word for!!! Will be missed, loved his stories about his children!!!! May God Bless Him, he will be missed!!!!
It was my great good fortune to have started out at the Tourism Bureau in 1997 just after Michael began at the MP. I spent a lot of time in the old office engaged in conversations with Michael about projects that furthered the interests of our organizations. I am privileged to have worked with him and his contributions to the Town can not be overstated. The staff of the MCTB and I are deeply saddened by his death and send our profound condolences to his loving family.
So sad. Michael was always a gentlemen in all respects. A huge loss for the town and his family. Our deepest condolences. George Kimmerle KG/KNA
Although I haven’t seen Michael in a few years, besides being very close friends with him while I was living in Mendham, we coached our boys together in Mendham Rec Basketball every year from 4th grade through 8th grade. I have very fond memories of those years coaching together, meeting for lunch often in Morristown, etc. He was a very caring/loving father, husband and good man in every respect who cared deeply about his community and the work he did in Morristown. I will miss him very much.
This is such shocking news. Michael was always so kind, so joyful. Over the years I have gotten to know him, he never had a harsh word for anyone and was always so positive and optimistic. He loved his family and was so proud to be a dad.
Michael was a good guy and he will be greatly missed.
Thank you all so much, you don’t know how much this means to me to hear. I feel and share the love. Peace brother…
Michael Fabrizio has been a leader and visionary in the Morristown community for decades. Spanning at least three mayoral administrations, Michael held on tight to a belief that his beloved Morristown could always be more perfect. He realized that vision through kindness, steadiness, and a quiet tenacity. Michael’s legacy is a thriving downtown and the organizations he built to make it so. It has been my privilege to call him a friend and colleague. His passing leaves a void in our hearts, our town and in his family – who he always spoke about with a big smile. My prayers of peace to all who are mourning the loss of a Morristown icon. A rare man who truly left the world better than he found it.
As Linda said, this is a massive loss for Morristown. Michael was a prince and I am lucky to have known him as a business associate and friend. In a Town of really large personalities, Mike was a calm but strong voice who led the Morristown Partnership and then the Parking Authority — jobs that are not easy and which require 24/7 attention. It takes a certain personality and wisdom to wade through the politics and other pressures to lead these organizations; Michael had it all. When people look back at the history of the Morristown Renaissance, Michael will be a very significant part of that story. My deepest sympathies to Michael’s beautiful family and the multitudes of friends and colleagues who have had the pleasure of knowing him.
As usual, Linda has perfectly articulated the emotions many of us are feeling today. Michael’s legacy in Morristown is well-cemented. He was the consummate civic professional that always had the public good in mind. I am so very honored to have known Michael and to have considered him a friend. I will miss our time together. He will be sorely missed.
Michael Fabrizzio’s passing leaves a hole, no, a chasm in Morristown, given how extensive his contributions have been over decades. As a commissioner on the parking authority, I was fortunate to get to work with him and to know him in all the ways he has been described here. Michael was, indeed, a very good man, a decent man, and a very talented man, committed to his family and to this town. He put everything, it seemed to me, into making the parking authority a good place for him to be, in service to the town, and committed to an authority that has its first objective to meet public needs. He made Morristown a better place to be, to visit, to live in and to work in, and he invested his talents and passion in every capacity in which he served. I’m glad I was privileged to know him.