David J. FitzGerald, 89, of Blount Street in Whitehall passed away at his home on Monday, May 19, 2008. Born on June 11, 1918, in Whitehall, he was the son of the late David John FitzGerald and Eleanor "Lena" (Bethel) FitzGerald. David graduated from Whitehall High School, Class of 1936 and Middlebury College, Class of 1940. At Middlebury, he was a center on the football team and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He was a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Army and his first unit was Duke University’s 65th General Hospital Medical Unit. He served in the Philippines, Guam and Japan. David owned and operated D. J. FitzGerald Coal and Oil Co for 35 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 276, American Legion Post No. 83, served as treasurer and board member for the Chamber of Commerce, a longtime member of the Men’s Choir of Our Lady of Hope Church and formerly Our Lady of Angels Church, a communicant of Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church and a member of the Brick Church Cemetery Association. He was predeceased by a twin brother, John B. FitzGerald and three sisters: Eleanor M. FitzGerald, Geraldine F. Holland and Dorothy F. Barker; and one nephew, James T. Barker of Troy. He is survived by a loving niece, Mary "Trish" Anderson Norris and her husband, Dick, of Proctor, Vt.; four great-nephews: Aaron Anderson of Greensboro, N.C., Seth Anderson of Burlington, Vt., Kyle Anderson of Branford, Conn., and James Barker of Cohoes, N.Y.; and great-nieces: Elaine "Pippy" Barker Burke of Troy, Carol Barker Cooke of Waterford, Pam Barker Frazier of Schaghticoke and Laura Barker of Troy. David was happy and comfortable in his final years because of his loving caregivers, Faye Jones, Kristi Jones, Shirley Belden and Rosemary Gordon LeBeau, visits from Laura Barker of Troy, great-nephews and nieces, Merrill Bruce from Castleton, who worked around the house and yard for 25 years, and wonderful neighbors and friends. A Mass of Christian burial was be celebrated on May 24 at Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church in Whitehall, with the Rev. Michael Flannery, pastor, officiating. Family and friends called at the Jillson Funeral Home, Inc., 46 Williams St., Whitehall, on May 24. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of a donation in David’s name to the Skenesborough Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 333, Whitehall, NY 12887 or Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church, 9 Wheeler Ave., Whitehall, NY 12887.
