Name: Visitation for DR. ROBERT E. FITZGIBBONS
Start: 2022-01-14T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2022-01-15T01:00:00.000Z
Location: Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Bridgewater

FITZGIBBONS, Dr. Robert E. Age 80, of North Fort Myers, FL, passed away surrounded by the love of his family on January 6, 2022. The longtime resident of Bridgewater, MA, was born on April 29, 1941 to John and Marion Fitzgibbons of Rockland. Bob was a 1959 graduate of Archbishop Williams High School and a 1963 graduate of Tufts University. He received a Master's degree from Temple University and earned a PhD from Boston University. It was at Tufts University that he met the love of his life, Linda, who was with him to the end. Bob was a polymath. He was a gifted philosopher, writer, and teacher. He was a talented piano player, often enlivening gatherings of family and friends with "a few songs." But most importantly, he was a dedicated father and never missed an opportunity to be involved in his children's lives. As a Professor at Bridgewater State University, he helped guide the University's curriculum and wrote a number of books, but his great love was working with the people of the University each and every day. Whether it was the President of the University or the custodian cleaning his classroom, Bob treated everyone with great respect. He especially enjoyed teaching generations of students who uniformly would describe his style as "tough, but fair." Bob and Linda made Bridgewater their home for almost fifty years, raising their five children there. Bob's greatest passion was supporting his children's endeavors, whether academic, artistic, musical, or athletic. Bob was always their biggest fan. He particularly enjoyed helping coach baseball, where his catch-phrase, "A walk is as good as a hit," still survives in Bridgewater Little League circles. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son Timothy and his wife Patricia, his daughter Deborah whose husband Michael Patton predeceased her, David and his wife Miki, John, and Brian and his wife Jessica. He is also survived by many grandchildren, all of whom he referred to as "characters": Tim's sons, Aryn and Eamon; Deb's sons Joseph, David, Joshua, and Michael; Dave's children Chloe, Tilly, and Carter; John's and Christina's children Caelan, Jack, and Liam; and Brian's children, Caroline, and Grace. Visiting Hours will be at Chapman Funerals and Cremations, 98 Bedford Street in BRIDGEWATER from 4 to 8 PM on Friday, January 14. A Funeral Mass will be conducted the following morning at 11 AM at Holy Family Church in Rockland. Burial will be at Holy Family Cemetery in Rockland immediately following the Funeral Mass. Please consider making a donation in Bob's honor to Hope Hospice. You can donate online at donate.hopehcs.org - or, via mail to "Hope Hospice', Attn: Hope Development Department, 9470 Health Park Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908.

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Published by Boston Globe from Jan. 12 to Jan. 13, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for ROBERT FITZGIBBONS

8 Entries

Raymond ZuWallack

July 8, 2022

Dear Linda, Dear Tim, Dear Debbie, Dear John, Dear David, Dear Brian...

Barbara and I learned of Bob's passing on July 5th. We had no idea until I read the Bridgewater Review. We missed the notice in the Globe. Sorry.

We were both stunned. Still are!

We hadn't seen much of each other in recent years but Barbara and I feel feel a sense of loneliness just thinking he's not around anymore, at least not on this earth.

I worked with the man for 40 years. I can't think of a more intelligent person I interacted with. Yet he was so practical and down to earth.

1. When he was chair of Secondary Education he once called a very rare Saturday session of the department. We had to develop anew curriculum and were "stonewalling", getting nowhere up to that special meeting.

He locked the door to the room we met in and said it wouldn't be unlocked until we did the job.

We did the job!

2. In the 1970s, Bridgewater State was in danger of losing teacher accreditation. It had an appeal opened to it--which meant sending a delegation to Pennsylvania to rebut the charges against the institution. Bob led the team and stated our case. I was told at the time he was the "star"; he brought home to Bridgewater unqualified teacher certification. He knew how to argue and get a point across; he knew how to smile while in action.

3. He taught one tough logic course! Some of us were experimenting with ultra "practical" , scaled down courses at the time, thinking we had to convince the student how "relevant"our courses ware.

"Poppycock" uttered Fitzgibbons; he made his course even more demanding--University of Chicago calibre.

We miss him. We will never forget him. He was quite the man!

Raymond ZuWallack

Gale Clifford

March 29, 2022

To dear Linda and Family... today I learned of Bob's passing, rather long after the fact, but with great sadness. I live on the Cape now, so am a bit out of touch... but still cherish my many memories of our times together in Bridgewater. Linda, I'll always remember how we "found" each other through Faculty Wives Club... and then how great it was for Bob and Guy to "connect" as Tufts alums as well as through their positions on the college faculty! Our dinner get-togethers were always so lively and fun. I'll never forget you, Bob, and your big smiles and the joy and laughter we'd share over the years. My deepest sympathy to all of you... Love, Gale

Howard London

February 18, 2022

Both as dean and provost I worked with Bob on several projects that were important to the university. It was always a great pleasure. Bob was both a scholar and a true gentleman. He greeted people with a smile and was respectful of everyone, including those with opposing views. Both professionally and personally he was one of the finest men I have ever met.

Michael Dunn

January 22, 2022

Lots of hours spent playing baseball in the Fitzgibbons driveway. Or a gathering of all the neighborhood kids in their den when sister Mary was supposed to be keeping a watchful eye over the kids and the house. They were sweet parents and kind to all the kids on the street. Dr. Fitzgibbons would speak with you like you mattered, even though you were just a kid. He was a fine man.

Paul B.

January 15, 2022

So sad to hear of professor Fitzgibbons passing. I remember him fondly. Such a passionate person! He was such a great professor. I still have the book he wrote 'Making Educational Decisions'. Dr. Fitzgibbons made me a better teacher, and a better person. The world lost a great man.

The Salvucci family

Sent Flowers

Ben and Kathy Myatt

January 14, 2022

Ben and I are so very sad for the loss of a friend and former neighbor of well over 40 years. Our lives on Norlen Park were enhanced by having such wonderful neighbors the entire time our young families were growing up. We deeply regret that we cannot attend either the wake or funeral due to recent surgeries however, all our thoughts are with you all

Sandra McLean and family

January 13, 2022

So many fond, fond memories of Bob and Linda from my years of being their next-door neighbor and babysitting as each new little Fitzgibbons came along. He was such a colorful, but laid-back parent who, along with Linda, made parenting look easy. The wonderful adults his children turned out to be are certainly a testament to his--and Linda's--love and nurturing.
May the road rise to meet him and have a Pepsi waiting for him.

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