New England Patriots fan creates homage out of snow

by Staff Pioneer Times
14 years ago

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — When it comes to showing support for the New England Patriots, Brian Fitzpatrick of Houlton is as cold as ice.
    A social studies teacher at Hodgdon High School, Fitzpatrick has drawn attention to his Columbia Street home over the years for his massive snow sculptures in support of the New England Patriots appearances in the Super Bowl.
    Fitzpatrick made his first Patriots snow sculpture for the 2001 Super Bowl. That sculpture featured the Patriots mascot, also known as the “Flying Elvis.” In 2003, he created a larger version of the team logo, complete with a rendition of the Lombardi Trophy. And in 2004, Fitzpatrick crafted a football cleat kicking a ball, as a tip of the cap to Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri, and also included a small tribute to the Boston Red Sox for winning the World Series.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
NE-CLR-Patriots-dc-pt-6SHOW OF SUPPORT — The front yard of Brian and Gretchen Fitzpatrick’s house was adorned with a large snow sculpture in support of the New England Patriots for their Super Bowl appearance.
    This year, Fitzpatrick created a sculpture with the initials “MHK,” for Myra Hiatt Kraft, late wife of team owner Robert Kraft.
    “I didn’t do one in 2007 and a lot of people gave me grief afterwards when New England lost to the New York Giants,” Fitzpatrick said. “Mostly it was my family. So I had to do one this year. People actually called me to see if I was going to do one.”
    With so little snow in the area, Fitzpatrick was concerned that he might not be able to build a snow sculpture this year. But thanks to two recent storms, he was able to complete his project. One of those storms came Friday, resulting in a snow day from work, which provided him with much-needed extra time to finish his creation.
    Fitzpatrick said he uses plywood to help box in the snow to form a rectangular base. Once he has the sculpture shaped to his liking, he uses water to turn it into a hardened ice sculpture before painting it.
    “I’m hoping it brings good luck for the Super Bowl this year,” he said.
    Editor’s note: The New England Patriots lost to the New York Giants 21-17.