Robert Fitzgerald

He was born on June 27, 1926 in St. Louis, MO, to parents, Eugene William Fitzgerald and Ida Bollwerk Fitzgerald.

In 1944, Bob was accepted into the Merchant Marine Cadet Training School. On Christmas morning that year, he sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge as an 18 year old Engine Cadet on a steel tanker carrying fuel oil and eleven fighter planes into the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he graduated from Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy in 1947 with a degree in Marine Engineering, and in 1953, he earned a degree in General Engineering from Iowa State University. Bob went on to establish a career as an Engineer and then Sales Manager, working for Wallace & Tiernan, a division of Pennwalt Corp, for his entire career.

In 2020, Bob was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his courageous service during World War II.

After Bob retired, he became very involved with his parish, St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church in Livingston, NJ, singing in the choir, tutoring students in inner city schools, helping to bag and distribute food to the needy at a food pantry, and volunteering with Several Sources Foundation. He also led a group of volunteers who helped to transform an old convent in Elizabeth, NJ into a home for single mothers. The volunteers did everything from scrubbing rust stained toilets to fixing and renovating the interior of the building. Named Raphael’s Life House, it is now a part of Covenant House New Jersey.

Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife Regina, siblings Marie and Jim, and his dear daughter Nancy Marchese.

Bob is survived by his children Peggy Harrop and husband Bob, Paul Fitzgerald and wife Gayle, David Fitzgerald and wife Pattie, Sharon Bargoud and husband Johnny, and Mark Fitzgerald and wife Lisa. Bob loved to laugh and joke with his twenty cherished grandchildren - Michelle, Megan, Amy, Sarah, Katherine, Rebecca, Matthew, Jen, Lisa, Dan, Kristen, Melissa, Nicole, Christopher, Patrick, Valerie, Thomas, Kelly, Dean, and Mackenzie - along with eleven beautiful great grandchildren.

A Visitation is scheduled for Friday, February 28 from 4pm to 8pm at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 1 at 10am at St. Philomena Church, 386 S. Livingston Ave., Livingston, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Mausoleum, 225 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Raphael’s Life House - Covenant House New Jersey, or Alzheimer’s Association - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Help.