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E. Fitzgerald Obituary
Detroit - Judge E. Thomas Fitzgerald passed away December 27, 2018 surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 79.
First elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 1990, Judge Fitzgerald served on the Court for 24 years before retiring in 2014.
His colleagues on the Court remember him as "one of the most decent, caring individuals one could ever meet, who loved both the work of the Court and the people of the Court. It is truly a sad day to lose a man like Tom Fitzgerald." Prior to his election to the Court, Fitzgerald was a trial attorney in private practice for 24 years, where he was recognized as an aggressive, caring and tireless advocate for his clients.
Judge Fitzgerald was born in Detroit and attended Assumption High School in Windsor. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Detroit.
Survivors include his wife of 33 years Kathy, children John, Jennifer, and Mary Kate (Keeter), son-in-law Adam Keeter, sister and brother-in-law Sally and Dennis Murphy, Rob Hunter, former wife Gwen Fitzgerald, and many nieces and nephews.
Tom's generous and loving spirit and gregarious personality will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2019 at St. Paul Catholic Church with the Fr. Michael O'Brien officiating. The family will receive friends at the Shiawassee County 35th Circuit Courtroom (third floor), 208 N. Shiawassee St., Corunna, from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Access to Justice Campaign administered through the State Bar of Michigan; www.atjfund.org; 306 Townsend St. Lansing, MI 48933.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for E. Fitzgerald
Sponsored by Nelson-House Funeral Home.
4 Entries
Bill Ballenger
January 6, 2019
Tom Fitzgerald may have been a great attorney and judge, but more than that he was a flat-out colorful character who was a lot of fun. With his early background in Detroit and across the river in Windsor, it's amazing he wound up in Owosso, Michigan, for almost his entire legal/judicial career. He enriched mid-Michigan with his presence. God bless his soul!
January 3, 2019
An honorable, kind and loving man whose focus on public service was tantamount. He was liked and loved and gave more of himself than most men. He was fair and honest and I am a better person for our conversations. You were one of a kind and you can't replicate that. I will miss you and those laughing eyes.Charmaine Johnson, McDonald, Loudenslager
Mary Massaron
January 1, 2019
Judge Fitzgerald served the public as an appellate court Judge for many years, and it was my privilege to appear before him regularly over those years. He was unfailingly courteous, listened carefully to the lawyers' arguments, and went out of his way to make clear his respect for their role in the process. Although he had been on the bench for many years, he never forgot how difficult the lawyer's work can be and that perspective was embodied in his effort to recognize and compliment their briefs and arguments. His love of the law was also ever-present and made him a true joy to appear before. God bless and keep him and his family.
December 31, 2018
Thank you for designating the State Bar's Access to Justice fund for memorial donations. It seems very fitting for such a caring individual as he was.
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