Joseph Murray FitzGERALD

FITZGERALD, Joseph Murray

Joseph Murray FitzGerald, beloved husband for 62 years to the late Deirdre FitzGerald, died peacefully at Branford Hospice with his family around him on December 3, 2011, three days short of his 93rd birthday. He was a man who put family first, and was the loving father and patriarch of an extended family, including Eileen M. (Barry Baskind) FitzGerald of South Windsor, Joseph FitzGerald of East Haven, Sheila F. (John) Haverkampf of Guilford, Stephanie F. (Walter) Dorman of Branford, and Nora P. (Peter Finn) FitzGerald of Burke, Virginia; grandchildren, Benjamin, Clinton (Carlye), and Amy Haverkampf, Meaghan, Katherine, Andrew and Samuel Dorman, Sequoia and Sierra Baskind, and Rachel, Liam, David and Ria Finn, as well as two great-grandchildren, Declan and Darren Haverkampf. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was born December 6, 1918, son of the late John Francis FitzGerald and Ellen Kiernan FitzGerald. A lifelong resident of Branford, Joseph FitzGerald was predeceased by his siblings John FitzGerald, Elinor FitzGerald, Cecilia FitzGerald, Mary Bratten and Anne Mooney. Mr. FitzGerald was a claims manager at the Hartford Insurance Co. and after his retirement embarked on a second career as a realtor with Village Realty, H. Pearce and Remax of Branford. He was a World War II veteran and a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. He served as a navigator on a B-25 bomber in the Pacific Theater and flew 254 combat hours. He attended Providence College and then, after World War II, attended Yale University. He is an active alumna of The Hopkins School. Mr. FitzGerald was a member of the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus and the Connecticut Association of Realtors. He was a member of the Parade Committee for the town of Branford and had served as Grand Marshall. A longtime lector and communicant of St. Therese Church, he frequently volunteered his services to the church community.
Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, December 7, at 10 in St. Therese Church, Branford, and may call Tuesday, December 6, from 4-8 p.m. at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main St., Branford CT 06405. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery in Branford. Memorial donations may be sent to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405.