Brian Edmund Fitzgerald

Brian Edmund Fitzgerald, 81, passed peacefully on August 5, 2025, with his beloved daughters Colleen and Kathleen “Katie,” by his side. He lived a long life embodied by his values of devotion to God and the Catholic Church, fiscal responsibility, a strong work ethic, generosity, humor, directness, and instilling in his daughters those values along with a fierce sense of independence. He was a humble and unassuming man and a quiet giver and he will be sorely missed.

Brian grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, with three brothers, all who predeceased him, John, Gavin, and Dennis Fitzgerald, and two sisters, Claire Sweet and Mimi Leveille, both of Rhode Island. He lived his life as a proud Fitzgerald, and in recent years, expressed considerable delight to know that name would be carried on in a younger generation by great-nephews, thanks to nephew John Fitzgerald (Meg). Brian cherished all his extended family, including nephews Ryan Leveille and the late Ted Sweet, nieces Maria De Cristoforo, Sharon Fuller (Barry), Kathy Sweet, Cheryl Whitford (Bryan), and Charlotte Fitzgerald, and all their respective children.

Brian graduated from St. Raphael’s Academy, going on to earn a business degree at Bryant College in 1964. The turbulent times of the conflict in Vietnam helped shape his pacifism, which, along with a desire to serve his country, led him to National Guard service. That service took place in Atlanta while he was employed in his profession of choice, as an accountant for Liberty Mutual. It was in Atlanta where he met his former spouse (Linda Beard McDaniel), and where his elder daughter Colleen was born. Soon after, he and his growing family moved when the company transferred him to a posting in Montoursville, Pennsylvania. There he and Linda were blessed with a second daughter, Katie, and the family experienced much joy as the family of four celebrated holidays, chicken pox, and proximity to New England, where they could drive in their Volkswagen Bug to visit the extended family.

Soon, Brian accepted a new employment opportunity in Tallahassee at Mobile Home Industries, and the family moved to Florida. Here Brian put down lasting and impactful roots in his community, developed meaningful friendships, subscribed to the Tallahassee Symphony, and until health prevented him, became a season ticketholder and passionate fan for FSU Men’s Basketball. A devout Catholic, Brian found his lifelong church home at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, as one of the Church’s founding members predating a dedicated building when the parish met at Gilchrist Elementary School. With Good Shepherd, Brian had found his spiritual nourishment. He served Good Shepherd and the Lord in many, many ways over the years. Original parishioners and their children may remember him as an usher, as a stalwart attendee of Church fish fries and St. Patrick’s Day parties, as a long-time financial protective force through the Finance Committee and multiple fund-raising campaigns, which in turn resulted in brick and mortar buildings in the various iterations of growth for Good Shepherd, as well as a leader and member of the Men of Good Shepherd (MOGS).

His generosity and desire to give back was strong. Daughter Katie spent numerous Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays with Brian serving others through Meals on Wheels. Both daughters benefitted from his and Linda’s generous school involvement at Kate Sullivan Elementary School, which the girls attended early on. Daughter Colleen spent time with classmates being tutored on how to prepare tax returns at Kate Sullivan, as Brian contributed his expertise for after-school enrichment activities.

A true joy for Brian was when his children joined Trinity Catholic School, both attending through its then-highest level, eighth grade. Katie and her classmates benefitted from Brian’s visits for snack time and as lunchroom monitor. Around this time, Brian determined that self-employment better suited his independent streak, a decision that gave him greater flexibility for a level of involvement that resulted in many memorable moments for the family, and many opportunities to give back to Good Shepherd and his community. His devotion to clients in his financial and accounting practice (AMTS, INC.) garnered deep friendships and loyalty from those who engaged his services.

As his daughters became older and grew more independent (something he desired very strongly for them), Brian found additional ways to spark his interests and connect with his community. His love for classical music inspired daughter Katie to expand his musical horizons, as she took him to a Moody Blues performance with the Symphony. He founded an investment club, and he found a second home at the 4th Quarter Bar and Grill, where he found fellow aficionados to cheer on his favorite teams, FSU, as well as the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots and Boston Bruins. One significant travel highlight came when Katie and Brian went on a Caribbean cruise together, sharing many special moments, including an exclusive wine cellar tour.

Although Brian was traveling less in recent years due to health issues, he valued and appreciated his visits to the Northeast to see his family, including weddings, when he could celebrate joy with them. Even on sadder occasions like family funerals, Brian relished the opportunity to see his relatives in New England.

While beset with declining health and medical issues these last few years, Brian has been blessed with strong support from his daughters, family visits from sister Mimi and his goddaughter and niece Sharon, his long-time friends, and the dedicated clergy of Good Shepherd, especially Father Foley.

Tallahassee services will be announced at a later date, and there will be a family celebration of life in Rhode Island in October.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Brian’s name to Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee (https://bigbendhospice.charityproud.org/Donate), to ensure all families have dignity and comfort in similar moments.