Thomas J. Fitzgerald

Thomas James Fitzgerald, Sr., 92, a 38 year resident of Kingston, passed away peacefully on January 29th, surrounded by loving family. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of over 68 years, Maureen Margaret (nèe Butler) Fitzgerald, almost three years to the day; and by his dear son, James Vincent Fitzgerald, almost one year to the day.
Tom was born on June 22nd, 1922, and grew up in Manhattan the eldest of Dr. Albion James and Theresa Loretta (nèe Dougherty) Fitzgerald's 8 children: William Fitzgerald (dec.), Florentine Fitzgerald (dec.), Theresa Fitzgerald (Kingston, NY), Elizabeth Fitzgerald (Washington, DC), Albion Fitzgerald, Jr (White Plains, NY), Stanley Fitzgerald (San Jose, CA), and Catherine Giordano (Clifton Park, NY).
Tom graduated from Xavier High School (Manhattan), earned a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics at Manhattan College, a Master's degree in Education, and went on to pursue further graduate studies in mathematics. Tom was a man of many talents, and had multiple successful careers. He taught mathematics for 19 years, initially at Regis High School (Manhattan), and subsequently at Herricks Junior High School in Nassau County, NY. In 1963, he started working in a new field called computers as a Systems Engineer, eventually retiring from IBM (Kingston) in 1986. He went on to work with his sons and daughter at Novadigm in Mahwah, NJ, finally retiring more than a decade later.
In addition to his work, Tom was actively involved at both St. Joseph's Church (Albany, NY) and St. Brendan's Church (Brooklyn, NY) Holy Name Societies, St. Joseph's Church (Kingston) as Usher and Head Usher; St. Mary's Church (Kingston), and many other Catholic organizations. He was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and authored, edited, and distributed their newsletter for 13 years. He was deeply involved in the Christian Coalition of America, and was a dedicated proponent of Right to Life education and legislation, and participated in numerous marches for the cause in Washington, DC. Tom and Maureen were active with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Kevin Barry Irish Club, marched numerous times in the Kingston St. Patrick's Day Parade, and were Grand Marshals in 1998. Many of their children and grandchildren continued the tradition in the years that followed. In their honor, March 15th, 1998, was declared Thomas J. & Maureen M. Fitzgerald Day in Ulster County, and Tom was named Honorary Mayor of Kingston for the day. In 2009, at the age of 87, Tom self-published an instructional book on mathematics, entitled Do the Math.
Tom and Maureen loved to travel, and made numerous trips to Ireland, including Maureen's homeland of Modeligo, Waterford Co., Ireland. One of Tom's favorite trips, and a highlight of his life, was a Tiger Cruise with his son, Tom, Jr., aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes (CG 49) in October 1998, from Pearl Harbor, HI, to her home port in San Diego, CA, on return from her Persian Gulf combat tour with his son-in-law Lieutenant Commander M.C. Agresti (Ret.).
He married his sweetheart, Maureen, on September 2nd, 1943. Tom was a true lover of math, and he and Maureen sure did multiply - the pair had 11 children, 30 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren (and counting).
Tom is survived by 10 of his 11 children (G1): Theresa (Medford, NY), Catherine (Washington, DC), Albion (Saddle River, NJ), Thomas, Jr. (Kingston), Stanley (Kingston), Maureen, Jr. (Kingston), Elizabeth (Washington, DC), William (Saddle Brook, NJ), Joseph (Franklin Lakes, NJ), and Florentine (Franklin Lakes, NJ). Spouses include Susan (James) & Shannon (Albion).
Tom and Maureen's 30 grandchildren (G2) are: (Theresa) Gloria, Thomas William, Lisa, Greg, and Christine; (Catherine) Jennifer and Derek, Jr.; (Albion) Gillian; (James) Jennifer, Tara, and James, Jr.; (Thomas, Jr.) Kathleen; (Stanley) Kerrie and Patrick; (Maureen, Jr.) Brigid; (Elizabeth) Catherine and James; (William) James, William, Jr., Shannon, and Marisol, Jr.; (Joseph) Joseph, Jr., Theresa, Christian, and Matthew; and (Florentine) Gabrielle, Ashley, Jessica, Andrew, and Alexandra. Spouses include Kathy Phifer, Harry Greslin, Jenn Matthews, Michael Berger, Michael Leonard, Dominick Bulfamante, Erika Morris, Elspeth Brown, Dana Romanelli, and Darren Cline.
Tom and Maureen's 23 great-grandchildren (G3) are: [Theresa: (Gloria) Adam, Jr., Mark, Christina, and Brittany; (Thomas William) Hana Kaye, Ethan, and Thomas, Jr.; (Lisa) Emma and Megan; (Gregory) Gavin]; [Catherine: (Jennifer) Naomi and Aiden]; [James: (Jennifer) Sydney, Brooke, and Jake; (Tara) Dominick, Jr. and Adriana]; [Stanley: (Kerrie) Shawn]; [Elizabeth: (Catherine) Julia, Colten, and Jack]; and [Tina: (Gabrielle) Evan and Braiden].
Friends and family may call at Keyser Funeral Home (326 Albany Ave, Kingston) on Tuesday, February 3rd, from 7 to 9 PM, and on Wednesday, February 4th, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on 11 AM on Thursday, February 5th, at St. Mary's Catholic Church (Kingston) followed by interment at St. Mary's Cemetery (Kingston).
The family requests donations be made to: Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist (4597 Warren Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-9718); or Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (P.O. Box 2747, Cody, Wyoming 82414).