Dan Louis FitzGerald

1940 - 2017
Dan FitzGerald was gifted with talent and taste. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Dan was fascinated with movies & he channeled his artistic talent into an award-winning Hollywood career that he thoroughly enjoyed. Over the course of his career, Dan directed and produced thousands of classic TV commercials, titles and film sequences; and he designed productions, sets, visual effects, computer generated imagery, production illustrations and storyboards for feature films and TV. He won 4 Clios, a Gold Medal at the International Film Festival of NY, and 14 Addys.

On his 18th birthday Dan landed his first position as an animator for Calvin Productions, one of the largest business film companies.

He moved to Hollywood 4 years later initially working for Animation Inc., then later Art Directing motion picture sequences, TV pilots and commercials for Oscar-Winning film director, Robert Altman.

In 1965, Dan's live action directing career was launched at John Urie & Associates. He gained a reputation as a Director/Production Designer and Animation & Visual Effects expert. This unique combination of skills caught the eye of MPO, and he was recruited to NYC where he also developed a lifelong love for the City and its many great restaurants.

In 1976, President Ford appointed Dan to be Media Advisor to the White House, an experience he considered a highlight of his life.

Shortly thereafter Dan fulfilled a dream, moving to Santa Fe, NM. He bought the first bank-financed passive solar house in New Mexico, and he subsequently met his wife, Lisa Peterson.

The couple returned to Hollywood, becoming active members of the film community during an exciting time when the remnants of "Old Hollywood" were still present but amazing technical advances were being made that changed the film industry forever. Dan served as Executive Producer for MAGI – a pioneer in Computer Generated Imagery, known for Disney's groundbreaking film, TRON.

In 1992, Dan returned to Santa Fe where he designed production illustrations and storyboards for scores of TV and film projects including BREAKING BAD, Spielberg's INTO THE WEST, SERAPHIM FALLS, and THE HI LO COUNTRY.

He also combined his lifelong love of painting and dogs, producing dog portraiture in the 19th Century English style. His paintings were exhibited at the William Secord and the Waxlander Galleries.

While Dan took enormous pleasure in the robust, artistic career that fully engaged his multiple talents – his true joys were his wife who was so fortunate to share his exciting life journey; his dogs Cindy, Shanto, Buster Brown and especially Bailey -who was a soulmate and made him laugh; the stunning apartments & homes he designed/decorated throughout his life; his extensive library of movies from Hollywood's golden age from which he often recited the dialog by heart, the beautiful landscape and cultural mix of New Mexico; all the wonderful celebrations with the Peterson Family at Rancho De Chimayo and at the Petrified Forest Ranch; New York City and its fabulous restaurants; Ralph Lauren fashion; and some very fine cars.