Rosalind Judith "Judy" FitzGerald

1941 - 2021

Rosalind (Blum) FitzGerald, 79, of Newington, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at St. Francis Hospital, of complications of COVID-19. She was born on September 18, 1941 in Hartford, CT to Milton Blum and Freda Wilson Blum. She is survived by her beloved husband of 57 years, Frederick FitzGerald; her brother Jerome Blume, his wife, Joanne, of Barerfoot Bay, FL; her daughter Sarah and granddaughter Aeron of West Hartford; her son Alan, of Norfolk, VA; her brother in law, Stephen FitzGerald and his wife Wendy of Virginia Beach, VA; her niece, Jennifer Blum; 2 grandnieces, Melissa and Deborah Bragg, and a grandnephew, Jordan Carion; and many cousins scattered around the country. In addition, she leaves behind a host of friends and many fellow cancer survivors for whom she was a Mentor. Judy grew up in the North End of Hartford, and moved to Windsor just about the time she started high school. She graduated from Windsor High in 1958, and went to work at Connecticut General Insurance Company. She spent most of her career working in the insurance and banking fields, retiring in 2001 from Webster Bank, where she served as the Customer Liaison for the Office of the President. As a teenager, Judy met Fred while roller skating at Bab's Beach up on the Congomond Lakes, in the late 1950's. They dated on and off for several years while Fred was in college. Finally, while in graduate school at BU, Fred proposed and they were married on September 22, 1963, by a Justice of the Peace in Hartford. Judy loved people. She loved to cook and entertain, especially her family. Judy loved the synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel. Early on, Judy and Fred became the Presidents of Young Marrieds Club. Judy was twice elected as President of the Temple Sisterhood and served a term as a member of the Board of Directors. In more recent times, she catered luncheons for the Senior group known as "SAGE" and with Fred, catered a number of second night Seders for the Congregation. Judy also loved to sing and act. She sang in musical productions, joined the volunteer choir and worked on Purim plays. In 2000, Judy helped to reestablish the Auxiliary of the Hartford Laurel Post 54 of the Jewish War Veterans and became it's first President. In 2000, Judy had her first lung cancer surgery. She would battle this disease right to the end. Judy was introduced to the Livestrong program at the Plainville YMCA. She completed the course targeted to help improve the lives of cancer patients. She came into it on a walker, and graduated by making it half-way up a climbing wall. She loved it and became one of the regular Mentors for other cancer patients, helping them with the workouts, and showing by example, how the program worked. But in early 2020, COVID-19 put an end to all this. None of the activities she was involved in could be engaged in, and on December 31, 2020, she entered the hospital with COVID-19. A private graveside service was held in Avon on Wednesday, February 10, 2021. Donations in her memory can be made to Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, or to the charity of your choice.