Obituary for John Robert "Fitz" Fitzgerald
John “Fitz” Robert Fitzgerald, age 78, of Spring Lake, passed away peacefully on Wednesday November 25, 2020 at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore Medical Center. He loved his family, faith, and country with deep profound love. Born in Brooklyn, NY, raised in Jersey City, NJ, he spent many summers in Spring Lake and permanently moved to Spring Lake in 1975. After graduating from Seton Hall University, John entered the US Navy and retired as Lieutenant after serving 4 years. He started his career at Wyeth Laboratories, working 33 years for Baxter International, retiring as Vice President of Sales for the Renal Division.
John was a man that made every individual feel loved and special whether you were a friend or an acquaintance. He loved God, Country, and Family above all. His greatest joy was being with family and sharing all those special moments.
John was proud to say he was a graduate of Our Lady of Lincoln, when asked if he went to St. Peter's Prep. John was a communicant of St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church in Spring Lake, serving as an usher on Sunday mornings. An avid golfer, John joined the Spring Lake Golf Club in 1977, where he served on a number of committees, and was a 5-time winner of the Senior Club Championship. John served as a Spring Lake Town Councilman for 3 terms, and started the committee to rebuild the North End Pavilion Facility. He was a proud member of the Spring Lake Community House Board of Trustees since 1992. He was also a member of the Board for the Vista Lago Villages, FL community for several years.
He was an original founder of both the Spring Lake Business Improvement District and the Spring Lake Trolley Car Co. He was also a member of the Stratton Trail Blazers, the Belmar Fishing Club and the NJ State Senior Golf Association.
He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Pearl Marie Peszka Fitzgerald and his son and daughters, John Fitzgerald (wife Katherine Michalowski Fitzgerald), Meghan Fitzgerald Milkowski (husband Ronald Milkowski), Maryelyn Coogan Cousins (husband David Cousins) and Heather Coogan Sirdashney. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Robert Fitzgerald and Mary Crowley Fitzgerald. Also surviving are his siblings, Mary Elizabeth Fitzpatrick (husband Gerald Fitzpatrick), Carol Heise (husband Craig Heise), and Robert Fitzgerald, his beloved grandchildren, Jack, Allison, Thomas, Matilda, Pierce, Maileigh, Sidney, Shane, Skylar and Shepherd.
Due to COVID capacity restrictions, a private family Funeral Liturgy is being held on Tuesday, December 8. It will be live streamed at 10:30 on their web site: www.stcatharine-stmargaret.org.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to either the Spring Lake Community House www.springlaketheatre.com/makeagift 300 Madison Ave, Spring Lake, NJ 07762, the Mercy Center https://mercycenternj.org/support/ 1106 Main St., Asbury Park, NJ 07712 or a charity of your choice.
John was a man that made every individual feel loved and special whether you were a friend or an acquaintance. He loved God, Country, and Family above all. His greatest joy was being with family and sharing all those special moments.
John was proud to say he was a graduate of Our Lady of Lincoln, when asked if he went to St. Peter's Prep. John was a communicant of St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church in Spring Lake, serving as an usher on Sunday mornings. An avid golfer, John joined the Spring Lake Golf Club in 1977, where he served on a number of committees, and was a 5-time winner of the Senior Club Championship. John served as a Spring Lake Town Councilman for 3 terms, and started the committee to rebuild the North End Pavilion Facility. He was a proud member of the Spring Lake Community House Board of Trustees since 1992. He was also a member of the Board for the Vista Lago Villages, FL community for several years.
He was an original founder of both the Spring Lake Business Improvement District and the Spring Lake Trolley Car Co. He was also a member of the Stratton Trail Blazers, the Belmar Fishing Club and the NJ State Senior Golf Association.
He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Pearl Marie Peszka Fitzgerald and his son and daughters, John Fitzgerald (wife Katherine Michalowski Fitzgerald), Meghan Fitzgerald Milkowski (husband Ronald Milkowski), Maryelyn Coogan Cousins (husband David Cousins) and Heather Coogan Sirdashney. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Robert Fitzgerald and Mary Crowley Fitzgerald. Also surviving are his siblings, Mary Elizabeth Fitzpatrick (husband Gerald Fitzpatrick), Carol Heise (husband Craig Heise), and Robert Fitzgerald, his beloved grandchildren, Jack, Allison, Thomas, Matilda, Pierce, Maileigh, Sidney, Shane, Skylar and Shepherd.
Due to COVID capacity restrictions, a private family Funeral Liturgy is being held on Tuesday, December 8. It will be live streamed at 10:30 on their web site: www.stcatharine-stmargaret.org.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to either the Spring Lake Community House www.springlaketheatre.com/makeagift 300 Madison Ave, Spring Lake, NJ 07762, the Mercy Center https://mercycenternj.org/support/ 1106 Main St., Asbury Park, NJ 07712 or a charity of your choice.