James Michael jim"" Fitzgerald

James ""Jim"" Michael Fitzgerald, 91, of Newington and formerly of East Hartford, loving husband and best friend of Donna (Yacavone) Fitzgerald, went home with the angels on Thursday (November 9, 2006) at St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center, Hartford. Jim was born and lived most of his life in East Hartford, prior to moving to Newington 22 years ago. He was the eldest of eight children of the late Patrick J. and Catherine (Hurst) Fitzgerald. For over 25 years from the 1940's to early 1970's Jim served as Executive Assistant to the Mayor for the town of East Hartford. He served as East Hartford's Democratic Town Chairman for over 25 years. Jim played an important state leadership role in Robert Kennedy's Presidential campaign in 1968 throughout Connecticut. Jim retired from service to the State of Connecticut as the Executive Director of the Commission on Special Revenue, after being appointed by the late Governor Ella Grasso in 1976. He then served admirably as Connecticut's Democratic State Chairman from 1980 through 1985. He was a long time member of St. Mary's Parish, East Hartford, and more recently a communicant of the Church of the Incarnation in Wethersfield. Jim was in every sense a gentleman. He loved the debate and strategy involved in politics but he was never one to seek the limelight for himself. He was a fiercely loyal friend with a wonderful Irish twinkle and grand sense of humor. Jim was a voracious reader and an avid poker player. In addition to his beloved wife of 22 years Jim leaves two grandsons, Brendan Fitzgerald and his wife, Lisa in Virginia, Timothy Fitzgerald and his companion, Sarah in Colorado. He will be dearly missed by his two devoted sisters, Margaret Mathiau and Josephine Leonard, both of East Hartford, and his daughter-in-law, Gretchen Fitzgerald in Vermont. His many nieces, nephews, and friends will miss him always and honor his memory. Jim will be greeted in Heaven by many people whom he loved dearly, his parents; his first wife, Jeanette (Sullivan) Fitzgerald and their son, Gary Fitzgerald; his sister, Katherine Sixt; and his four brothers, John, Francis, Robert, and Donald Fitzgerald. Funeral service will be Monday November 13th at 9:30 a.m. from the D'ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church, 370 May Road, East Hartford. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Burnside Avenue, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Sunday November 12th from 2-5 p.m. Mrs. Fitzgerald asks that donations in her husband's memory be made to the East Hartford Public Library, 840 Main Street, East Hartford, CT, 06108, or to a charity of the donor's choice. Mrs. Fitzgerald would like to extend her sincere gratitude and appreciation to all Jim's doctors, and the ICU staff of St. Francis Hospital for their compassionate care. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.