Richard Fitzsimmons
Current Company and Position: Business Manager Local 147 LiUNA NYC Sandhogs.
Family: Cindy, Richard Jr., Joseph & Ryan.
First Job: Laborer for Local 147 in the construction of Van Courtland Park Water Tunnel.
What it taught me: To be on time and to try your best when given opportunity.
Best advice you could give someone starting out: Arrive early and work to the best of your ability.
Who is your hero and why? My Father. He was always by my side. He provided a good home for me, and my family and he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of working people.
Biography: Richard T. Fitzsimmons, born in the Bronx in 1960. Both his parents were from the Bronx, and both their parents immigrated to America from Ireland, County Cavan, Mullahoran, and Roscommon around 1915. His grandparents came directly to the Bronx from Ireland and settled in the Willis Avenue near the Saint Anne's Parish. Richard spent his early childhood growing up in the Bronx where he was raised in a good Irish Catholic Family. In 1966 his father found a house on Ashford Avenue while working on a pipe jacking job under the NY State Thruway. They moved to Dobbs Ferry and Richard was enrolled in Dobbs Ferry Schools, where he met his wife Cindy during high school. They dated and went to the prom together, and then went on to get married in 1985. It wasn't long after that they had their first child Richard Jr. in 1987, then Joseph in 1988, and finally their son Ryan in 1992. Richard credits his wife Cindy for keeping him on the right road and helping him raise his family while providing a loving home. Richard worked as a sandhog up until the time when the city had a fiscal crisis in the 70s. He left to become an apprentice with the IBEW Local 3 where he completed his apprenticeship and worked as a Journeyman for the electrical union for approximately 10 years. When worked resumed with the sandhogs he came back to his home local where he worked in the field until becoming Business Manager in his father's footsteps in 1995. Although he left the IBEW he remains a member in good standing, as well as being a member of the Knights of Columbus. He credits his time with Local 3 IBEW for ensuring he received an associate's degree in labor studies and helping him prepare to become a Union Officer. Richard is thankful that upon his return to the Sandhogs he was able to work alongside his father Richard E. Fitsimmons who helped him become a true Labor Leader in every sense of the word. Richard now has the good fortune to work with his brother Chris as the treasurer and all 3 of his sons who currently work as laborers in the Field. The Laborers International Union has provided for 3 generations of the Fitzsimmons Family, and they never forget the importance of belonging to such a great organization. He holds his Catholic Faith, his Irish Heritage, and his Union Membership near and dear to his heart. He is proud to be an American and to live in a country where you can immigrate, find opportunity, and work your way up to the American Dream.
