FATHER GERALD FITZGERALD

FITZGERALD, CSSP, FATHER GERALD 1932 – 2021 Father Gerald (Gerry) Fitzgerald of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada, died unexpectedly, on the night of September 4, 2021, at Scarborough General Hospital. Father Gerry was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Margaret (nee McManus) and siblings, Desmond and Joan. He is survived by his sister Pamela, his sister-in-law, Breda, as well as numerous nieces and nephews (Helen, Allison, Christine, Kenneth, Keith, Nigel, Susan, Gerald, Laetitia). Father Gerry was born May 13, 1932 in Clonmel, Ireland. He made his first profession as a Spiritan on September 8, 1949, and did his philosophy and theology studies with the Spiritans at Kimmage in Dublin, followed by three years of prefecting in Port of Spain, Trinidad. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 10, 1960. During his 61 years as a priest, Gerry made an important contribution to Catholic education in the city of Toronto. First assigned to Canada in 1961, Father Gerry taught at Neil McNeil Catholic Secondary School where he became principal in 1975. In 1980, Father Gerry became the founding principal of Regina - Pacis Catholic Secondary School and in 1988, became principal of Marian Academy where he served until his retirement in 1991. From the time of his retirement, Father Gerry worked actively in refugee work in the city of Toronto with Sacred Heart Village from 1991 until 2002. Also in his retirement years, Father Gerry served for several years as the co-editor of Spiritan Missionary News. Father Gerry gave many years of service to the Spiritan community serving as Provincial Bursar from 2002 to 2008. In declining health but always of good spirit, Father Gerry retired to the Houses of Providence in Toronto in 2010 and lived there until his passing. Father Gerry was known for his strong interest in, and commitment to, Catholic education as well as refugee issues in Canada. Up until the end of his life, Father Gerry took a keen interest in all news, worldwide or local, and in the Spiritan congregation and our new initiatives and missions. He had a wonderful memory, was an avid conversationalist, story teller and communicator and maintained a large and diverse network of friends and colleagues. Father Gerry will be greatly missed by his Spiritan confreres, family and many friends. Due to COVID, there will be no wake or vigil service. A brief visitation, will take place at St. Joseph's Church (200 Morrish Rd., Scarborough, ON M1C 1E8), on Monday, September 13, 2021 from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. The Funeral Mass will be available via Livestream through the funeral home website at: www.pauloconnorfunerals.ca Due to COVID, there will be no reception. Interment will follow immediately after at Holy Cross Cemetery (4950 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 6K1).