Arthur Griffin Fitzgerald, 82, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2021 after a brief illness.
Art and his wife Nancy had been happily married for 58 years. They have been living at Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, North Carolina for the last 18 years.
He was born in Scarsdale, NY and lived in Highland Park, TX, Glen Ellyn, IL, Newport, RI, Boston MA, Columbus, OH, Bloomfield Hills, MI and Wilmington, NC.
He graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, IL, majoring in Electrical Engineering, and spent four years as an officer in the Navy.
He then got an MBA in 1967 from Harvard Business School, spent a year at Industrial Nucleonics in Columbus, OH and then joined Ford Motor Company as an analyst in the Finance Staff. The latter move began a thirty-year career with Ford Motor Company.
At Ford, Art worked in several different capacities and divisions including the Finance Staff, Parts and Service division, Asia Pacific and finally retired as head of Warranty.
After his retirement he volunteered for several years as treasurer of the nonprofit St. Mary Dental Clinic in Wilmington and also played golf.
Art was a dedicated employee, devoted family man and devout Christian. He could always be counted on to give an informed, honest and forthright opinion if asked for advice. He loved to take road trips across the US and has been to all 50 states. He was close with his granddaughters and enjoyed showing them new places and giving them different experiences including taking them on several trips over the years.
He was a rock to our family and much loved and admired by everyone, particularly his wife Nancy and daughters Liz and Kay. One of his daughters wrote at his retirement that he was “the hardest working and most ethical man that we have ever known.”
Art is survived by Nancy, daughters Elisabeth Murray (Jeffrey) of Marietta, GA, and Catherine Knowles (Keith) of Denver, CO, sister Mary Szymczak (Dennis) of Naperville, IL, and four grandchildren, Meghan Murray, Sarah Murray, Bryne Knowles and Erin Knowles.
He is also survived by his brother-in-laws, Richard Lamb and John Lamb, including nieces Barbara Doyal, Katherine Lamb (Laura Quirk), and Patricia Heinel (John) and nephews Robert Fitzgerald (Leslie), Andrew Lamb and Paul Szymczak (Olivia).
Obituary and photos can be viewed at www.andrewsmortuary.com. A memorial service is planned for 12pm, Friday, May 27, at St. Therese Catholic church in Wrightsville Beach, NC
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