Francis Fitzgerald 85, died peacefully on Thursday, May 3, 2018 after a difficult battle with cancer. At his side during his final days, which came much sooner than expected, were his wife Lois, son Chris, daughters MaryKaye and Beth, and stepson Mike and his sister Cathy and nephew Danny Deane. Frank was born on January 23, 1933 in Newark, NJ, the son of William and Katherine Fitzgerald. From early childhood he lived in Roxbury, MA until he and his family moved to Wethersfield, CT where he graduated from Wethersfield High School in 1952. Shorty after graduation, he joined the army and stationed at Fort Sam Houston,TX, served proudly in the US Army Police Core for two years. Following his service, he studied and graduated from Benedictine Heights College in Tulsa, OK. In 1955 he married his first wife Annette with whom he was blessed with seven wonderful children named MaryKaye Varni/Louie, East Hampton, CT, Chris/ Judy, Boulder, CO, Beth, Essex, CT, Pat/Monique, Tulsa OK, Helen/John Veenker, Sand Springs, OK Franny/John Cleveland, Littleton, CO, and Andrew, Tulsa OK. Frank eventually moved back to Connecticut and started his own companies, Air Lab and Filter Systems in Cromwell, CT. He enjoyed successfully running these businesses for many years. Frank and Annette parted in 1974. In 1981 he married Lois Thomas and they settled in Niantic, CT before moving to Essex. Lois brought five children into his life, Liz/Dave Krill, Raymond, ME, John/Robin, Denton, NC, Jackie Mirmina, Jacksonville Beach, FL, Ray/Myriam, Madrid, Spain and Mike, New London, CT. Frank was an avid golfer and for many years belonged to the Middletown Exchange Golf League with whom he played golf twice a
week with many of is dear friends. Yearly golf trips were also on his calendar and included some great courses in Ireland. Weekly poker games with his golf buddys were played for many years until he became too ill to attend. After his retirement and more time on the golf course, Frank decided to see how it felt to try working again. He was hired by Whelen Engineering in Chester, CT where he worked for fifteen years. He loved working there and was very fond of many of his fellow employees. Frank was predeceased by his parents, his brother David Fitzgerald, his sister and her husband, Joan and Bob Marino and brother-in-Iaw, Henry Deane. He leaves behind to mourn his passing his loving wife, Lois, his many children, step children, many loving grandchildren, great grandchildren, step grandchildren, his sister, Catherine, sjster-in-Iaw Anne Fitzgerald, many nieces and nephews and devoted friends.
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