Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, where his childhood was filled with the simple joys of family, neighborhood friends, and plenty of time outdoors. He loved swimming, playing baseball, softball, and football, and by junior high had developed an interest in the family’s electrical company, a business he once thought he might take over one day.
But on August 21, 1976, Mark’s life changed forever. While climbing trees with friends, the branch he was sitting on broke, sending him falling more than 20 feet. The fall left him with collapsed lungs that cut off oxygen to his brain, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and hemiplegia, or loss of muscle function on one side of his body. Doctors at Nebraska Medical Center weren’t sure if Mark would survive. He spent three months in a coma, followed by a long semi-coma. After two years of recovery at home, he eventually moved to a facility in Sheldon, Iowa. When Quality Living, Inc. (QLI) opened, Mark’s father helped establish it, and Mark became one of its very first residents.
Mark’s sister Julie was not with him during the accident but was the first family member to see him at the hospital. She immediately contacted their parents, setting in motion the family’s long journey of support and advocacy that continues today.
Now 65, Mark has lived at QLI for 35 years. It’s a vibrant community with more than 150 residents, and Mark makes his home on the East Campus with 52 others. He enjoys the freedom QLI gives him to stay active—working out regularly, riding his three-wheeled bike daily, and going on pontoon boat rides or fishing trips. Though he uses a wheelchair for longer distances and receives moderate cognitive support, Mark continues to approach life with determination, gratitude, and his trademark smile.
His world began to open even more when he was paired with volunteer Gene Pache through Jen, QLI’s volunteer coordinator. Gene, an avid scuba diver, shared stories from his own underwater adventures, sparking Mark’s curiosity and excitement about diving. Before long, Mark had the chance to try a dive in the pool with DiVentures of Omaha. In the water, his mobility limitations fall away. He loves the feeling of freedom, of moving without restriction, and he has no problem swimming.
Family has remained a grounding presence for Mark. His sister Julie lives nearby in Omaha, while his mother, Ardith Fitzpatric, and another sister, Raedean Landon, live in California. His world is close-knit, but learning to dive with the Dive Pirates Foundation offers him the opportunity to expand it—to travel, see more of the world, and experience something he’s always dreamed of. Inspired by the saltwater aquarium at QLI, Mark dreams of seeing coral reefs, colorful fish, and sea turtles up close.
Sociable and positive, Mark has never met a stranger. On his daily rides, he greets staff and fellow residents alike, encouraging them with one of his favorite sayings: “Keep your smile on your mug, don’t fret the small stuff—be happy, think positive.” He enjoys keeping up with history and current events on YouTube, follows the weather closely, and never misses a Nebraska Cornhuskers game.
For Mark, scuba diving with the Dive Pirates Foundation is more than a sport—it’s a new horizon. It’s about freedom in the water, discovery beyond his daily world, and proving that even 50 years after his accident, life is still full of adventures worth living.
Thank you for being part of Mark’s journey. Let’s make this next chapter one for the books!