James Francis Fitzgerald ~ "HiYa"

James “Jim” Francis Fitzgerald, 79, was called home to be with the Lord on October 25, 2020 at Elmcroft of Northridge. Born on October 11, 1941 in Springfield, MA; he was the son of the late James Daniel Fitzgerald and Madeline Breslin Fitzgerald.

After receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), Jim joined Western Electric, which later became AT&T. During this time he lived in New Jersey where he met and married Jean Gwendolyn Carbone in 1968. Together they raised two sons, Conan and Keenan, in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Jim spent the majority of his engineering career helping to develop telecommunications technology with AT&T, and then another decade with various organizations. Jim had a brilliant mathematical mind, and in his spare time enjoyed chess, card games, and music.

In his early 40s Jim placed his trust in Jesus Christ “as the certain and only hope of evading the penalty of a just God for my sins”. Besides becoming an avid student of the bible, Jim became a fixture of the church choir, combining his interest in music with his devotion to Christ.

In 2004 he and his wife relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina where he spent his remaining years enjoying various interests including singing in the church choir, arranging music, and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchild. In October 2020 was promoted to the Heavenly Choir, where he will sing with joy and strength forever more, in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years Jean Carbone Fitzgerald; sons Conan Fitzgerald and wife Tammie, of Raleigh and Keenan Fitzgerald and wife Brittany, of Middletown, NY; grandchildren Xavier Michael and wife Giselle of Palm Bay, FL, Joshua Gabriel of Steubenville, OH, Shelyce Michelle of Buffalo NY, and Cassandra Jean, Tyler Greco, and Timothy James, all of Raleigh, NC; and his great-grandson Lucas Xavier, of Middletown NY. James is also survived by his sister Gail LeClair, and husband Norman, of Palmer MA.

Family will receive friends on Friday evening at Mitchell Funeral Home from 6-8 pm. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 11 am at North Ridge Bible Chapel, with interment to follow at Raleigh Memorial Park. Zoom will be used so friends may attend virtually as well - Meeting ID: 874 4602 3465 Passcode: 124493

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to North Ridge Bible Chapel, 7100 Harps Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615.

If you would like to leave a message of condolence to Jim's family, you may do so below within "add a memory".