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William Fitzgerald Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for William Fitzgerald
October 14, 2013
To honor Bill's memory we ask that contributions be directed to Loyola Marymount University for the William F. Fitzgerald Memorial Fund to support the Scholarship and Grant which are both in his name.
You can either:
1. Mail a check to Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, University Hall Suite 2800, Los Angeles 90045-2659, Attn: Alma Vorst. Please list “William F. Fitzgerald Memorial Fund” in the memo section of your check.
2. Make a gift on-line at http://giving.lmu.edu Click on Give Now, click the dot that says “Direct my gift to” and instead of the drop down menu, write in “Fitzgerald Memorial Fund” in the Other Designations or Comments. Later in the form there is an opportunity to mark the gift as a memorial gift if you so choose.
Paul Ogren
October 8, 2013
One of the truly wonderful elements of Bill Fitzgerald was his unrelenting naiveté. Somehow all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune never seemed to dent his incredible optimism. I guess the best single word that would describe my friend Bill was his absolute ebullience for life.
We can all learn a hell of a lot from Bill Fitzgerald, even now. I know I sure did, and will be forever thankful for it.
So long Bill, it was great to know you!
Gigi Kurz
October 7, 2013
I only new Dr. Fitzgerald for a short period of his later years. I wish I had known him in his earlier years. He was a joy to be around. Filled with great humor and wisdom. He was a gift to many. He will be missed, but he is loved greatly and I pray for the repose of his soul to be graced with God's eternal love. May he rest in final peace.
Ronald J. Fields
October 7, 2013
I loved Bill. He taught me about life, love and politics, and most all that they should always work in harmony. A great human being! A great, great human being.
Steve Dzida
October 7, 2013
Bill Fitzgerald was one of the true greats! LMU has had a few figures who actually defined the spirit and the character of the university. Bill was certainly one of them. From his simple but direct prayer on the first day of class (“God, grant us the grace to know and love the truth.”) to his walking hand in hand with his beloved Martha to daily Mass at Huesman—he taught us all by his life what it means to be a husband, a father, a Catholic, a scholar and a gentleman.
Jerry and Martha Uelmen
October 7, 2013
Bill had an enormous impact on our lives, and we will always treasure the memories of his kindness and thoughtfulness. Our deepest sympathy to you and the rest of his awesome family, and we look forward to being with you October 19.
Dan Vistica
October 7, 2013
Special man, who touched and significantly impacted thousands of lives over many wonderful years.
Andrew Adams
October 7, 2013
By the time I got to know Grandbill, he was late-in-life Grandbill – retired (at least for the most part), and living in North County San Diego. We were lucky that we were just old enough to come down and visit for ourselves, but young enough that we still had entire summers left free. So we did Junior Lifeguards in Solana Beach, and stayed with them for weeks at a time. At one point, I remember staying in Solana Beach for over a month, just me, Robin, Grandbill and Grandmartha and whatever group of aunts and uncles that would come down for the weekends. Of course, this being a Fitzgerald house, there were people in and out all the time, and the quiet house was a rare occurrence that came around about as often as the quadrennial El Nino.
I think this was the best Grandbill – the one who had time to take us places, and to spend one-on-one time with us. I'm sure that during those summers, we got more attention than any of the eleven kids or 8,000 grandkids ever did. But we could spend good, quality time with both Grandbill and Grandmartha, in a time in both of our lives where responsibilities were at the low end of the bell curve for all of us.
In this era, there was time for watching the News Hour every night, with some iced carrots (and sometimes peanut butter). There was time to spend days at the horse track, having walked there on the railroad tracks, which was a danger and thrill almost better than the betting. We all had time for penny poker games many of the nights – a game that was not BYO-pennies.
But that is not to say that this was a boring time in which we all sat around full of Rubio's and tired from days at the beach. Grandbill's work of righting injustice continued, and he took on Duke Cunningham in the 1996 election. Cunningham was a local institution and cash-spigot for the area. And so running on the Democrat ticket at that time, in that district, had about the same chance of success as if he had run for Emperor of Mexico. (I would like to note that the guy that took over for Cunningham after he was sent to jail in 2004 was just defeated by a guy whose campaign I worked for – that was extra sweet).
But that campaign wasn't the only right that had to be wronged. Seascape Sur, the community where Bill and Martha lived, was primarily older people. And progressively, access to the pools and the common rooms was being limited, as “adult hours” were set for 2 hours each day. For someone with 11 children (and from the point of view of Seascape Sur, about 8,000 grandchildren) the idea of limiting access to the benefits of the community seemed odd, and we had an ally in our fight in Grandbill. And this ally was a board member, not just some resident. Our fight at that time was to let kids over 13 swim without adults, and to do so throughout the day, and Grandbill had our backs. So while it was a silly, inconsequential fight, it was important to us and Grandbill too.
Grandbill and Grandmartha gave us something that we were incredibly proud about growing up – that our family was abnormally large and pretty weird. I loved to brag that he taught at LMU, particularly after everyone knew about LMU because of Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble had put the basketball team on the map. But I was so proud that he was a Doctor and Professor, and I thought that I was the envy of everyone that knew him, because no one could imagine how great it would be to be Dr. Fitzgerald's grandson. And that was true, because when the grandkids my age got to know him, it was when he had the most time and energy to spend with us.
This time was undeniably special. Grandbill grew up poor in the Depression, only to go off to a war in Europe when he was still a teenager. Then he came back, got his doctorate, got married and had eleven children. This seems to me to be an insane amount of work, and a life made up solely for the benefit of an impressive tombstone. But he managed to work into this friendships and mentorships with hundreds of people, an active faith life, and a loving marriage (although this speaks more to Grandbill's ability to not pass up on the opportunity of a lifetime).
By the time I got to know him, Grandbill was a little bit resting in the glow of a life incredibly well-lived. The trips to the Wild Animal Park, Jack Murphy Stadium, Rubio's, Pizza Port and everything else, was just a good time for me and the other kids, but I can't imagine how happy it must have made someone who grew up like Grandbill did to provide those things for us. I thought Solana Beach was just this crazy-fun playground, that had all the stuff I liked. Now, as an adult, I can see how sharing this life with the rest of their family must have made Grandbill and Grandmartha so happy.
I think I was incredibly blessed to get to know Grandbill the way I did, and at the time I did. I caught an impressive and loving man in his victory lap, which of course he shared with us. I thank him for everything that he did, and for the life that he built for himself, his children and his grandchildren.
Bev De Nicola
October 7, 2013
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Fitzgerald. Not sorry for him - he is with the love of his life- but for his family and friends who love him. He had an extraordinary impact on my life, and all of the students he touched. He lived his beliefs. He loved his family. He inspired. We will never forget him.
Bev De Nicola
October 7, 2013
It was really a privilege for Therese and me to be with GrandBill and the Fitzgerald circle for a precious while on the evening that he left us. He was one of my life's great teachers--and I never had him for a class. He was probably the most entertaining human being I've ever known. Long live Bill Fitzgerald! You couldn't help but love him.
Peace,
Bob
Kim Kouri
October 7, 2013
I walked in to LMU and Dr. Fitzgerald's Intro to Political Science in 1983 an unaware girl from the valley who didn't think about politics, civic responsibility or making a difference in the world. Through my 4 years at the school, I took every class he taught and without a doubt, the biggest lesson, which I do live by today - do something! All the Fitzgerald kids were doing something to change the world and when I need motivation, I think of all of you. With much love!
October 7, 2013
The heaviness in my heart was lifted away as I sat with Dr. Fitzgerald, and took part in all the love that was shared during his final moments here with us. There are so many wonderful parts of my soul that are a result of knowing him and Mrs. Fitzgerald. Although I'll miss them so much, I really am lucky to have so many memories him; such as his INABILITY to do anything with a softball but PULL it!
Thank you so much Dr. Fitzgerald for giving your love to me; and letting me love you as well.
Anthony Roberson (CRESTLINE, CA)
Bob Nash
October 7, 2013
I was so sorry to learn of Dr. Fitzgerald's passing. I have very fond memories of my time at Loyola in the mid-70's, and of all the great professors I had, Bill Fitzgerald was the best. He showed a true fire for teaching unmatched by anyone, a concern for the students that epitomized for me what a college professor should be, and infused a sense of ethics and morality that has stayed with me for the past 35 years. One of my greatest memories was a recognition for him (Silver Anniversary?) in, I believe 1988. Fr. Welch did a great presentation, but what impressed me was Dr. Fitzgerald's ability to go around the room and talk to the many students there spanning 25+ years, remember their names, and know what each was up to: a real reflection of how much he cared.
We will miss you. Rest in Peace.
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