HOUSTON – Phillip Riley Fitgerald of Houston, and Port O’Connor, Texas, passed away on January 17, 2022, in Port O’Connor. He was the son of Kinzie Lee and Lila Riley Fitzgerald. He graduated from Austin High School in Houston in 1954 where he lettered in Football and Swimming. He attended the University of Houston, where he received a scholarship to play football for the Cougars. After his football career ended, he joined the Army ROTC and pledged Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, graduating with a Bachelors’ of Science degree in Geology in 1958.
After graduation, he served in the US Army as an officer in the Field Artillery in Germany, ultimately achieving the rank of Colonel through the US Army Reserves. During his time in Germany he met the love of his life, Charlotte Bea Lovelace. They were married in Ingolstadt, Germany, and returned to Houston, to start their family, residing there until 2017, when they retired to their family retreat in Port O’Connor.
Upon returning to the states, Phillip went to work as a Geologist at Exxon before becoming a commercial real estate broker. He started Anderson, Fitzgerald & Giammalva, Inc. along with his partners Saverio Giammalva and Ken Anderson, and built a successful commercial and residential real estate firm in Houston, TX.
Phillip was a prolific outdoorsman and conservationist at heart, and grew up fishing and hunting around Galveston Bay and the Texas Coast. Phillip was a founding member of Gulf Coast Conservation Association, now Coastal Conservation Association, or CCA. Forty five years later CCA comprises seventeen coastal state chapters and 125,000 members. He remained a very active member and volunteer for forty years. He served on both CCA Texas and CCA National Executive Boards, and served on several important CCA Texas Committees including the Texas Management Committee. He was the first Chairman of CCA Texas Parks and Wildlife Committee, a position he maintained until his retirement. This committee reviews and recommends funding requests from Texas Parks and Wildlife Coastal Enforcement and Coastal Fisheries Divisions for important and necessary items not provided for in their operational budgets. Phillip was also Chairman of the Change of Tides book committee which provides a narrative history of the Coastal Conservation Association published in 2000.
Above all, Phillip was a loving husband to Charlotte, deeply saddened after her passing in June of 2021. He was a wonderful father to Cece and Melissa, instilling in them his love for them and the outdoors, always teaching and imparting his knowledge of fishing, hunting and conservation of our natural resources. He was known to his grandchildren as “Big Daddy” and loved each of them with all his heart.
After following his passion of fishing and hunting around the world, and fishing there as a child, he chose Port O’Connor, Texas as his base, built a family retreat and a life around the small coastal town. He was fascinated by the flight paths of birds and would look out at the bay daily to see a flight of ducks or his favorite Osprey with its catch of the day.
Phillip’s was a true connector. His genuine interest in people and his natural charm led him to meet, engage and meaningfully connect many people for a multitude of reasons. This was the basis for authentic relationships, forged by common interests, from family, high school, college, military, professional and, maybe more than any other, CCA. One of his most important bonds came from a mentorship with an athlete at the University of Houston, Tommy Ebner. Like many others, their friendship created bonds that will continue for generations. Phillip and Charlotte formed real ties with friends and their families, their home always being open to friends and passersby. You never knew who would “just come by to say Hi to Phillip.”
He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Charlotte Lovelace Fitzgerald; Survived by daughters Charlotte Celia Fitzgerald McFadin and Melissa Fitzgerald Harrell and husband Brent; brother Frank Hobart Fitzgerald and wife Patsy; grandchildren Kinzie Riley Sullivan, Phillip Hunt Harrell, Lila Kathleen Harrell, nephews Blake Fitzgerald and wife Jackie, Axel Lovelace and wife Crystal, and Erik Lovelace and wife Christine and numerous cousins.
Celebration of Life will be conducted on Friday, January 28, 2022, at 2:00 pm at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. Private graveside burial at Forest Park East on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 10:00 am. A memorial service in Port O’Connor will be held at a later date.
Pallbearers: Hunt Harrell, Clay Ebner, Preston Luster, Ronald Luster, Vince Little, Toby Murray, David Murray, and Michael Barnes. Honorary Pallbearer: Trey Little. The family would like to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the caregivers at Senior Helpers and Hospice of South Texas, as well as the many friends and family for their support. A special thanks to the Port O’Connor EMS for their services and help during this time.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Phillip Fitzgerald may be made to the Coastal Conservation Association at www.ccatexas.org/donate, Hospice of South Texas https://hospice-vic.org/donate, or The University of Houston Giving at UH/Cougar Pride.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkEast-FHC.com for the Fitzgerald family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18