James William "Jim" Fitzgerald II
Feb. 6th,1950 - Feb. 6th, 2015
James William 'Jim' Fitzgerald II, 65, of New London, CT, a kind and generous man, died at his home early on Friday, February 6, 2015, after a long struggle with cancer. He led a fascinating life, and was equally gifted at musical as well as the technical arts.
Born on February 6, 1950 in Sturgeon Bay, WI, Jim was the eldest child of the late sonar innovator, James William Fitzgerald, Sr. and Mary Olfson Fitzgerald, RN. Jim's profound talent for music manifested itself early in his life. He was an excellent pianist who could have pursued a concert career on that instrument, but chose instead to focus on the double-bass viol, an instrument on which he became a highly sought-after performer, both classically and in popular music forms (sometimes on electric bass), throughout his life.
Jim grew up in Annapolis, MD, which he always considered his hometown, and graduated from Annapolis High School in 1968. His fine mind and innate curiosity about all that life had to offer led him to read widely; thus he became a true autodidact. Whatever the subject, Jim was well-informed and ready to share his knowledge, and was quick to take any opportunity to help others, be they human or four-footed and furry.
Along the way, Jim taught music at times, and even had a brief stint with the circus, but his most fascinating employment came when working alongside his sonar-specialist father, from his days of swimming with the dolphins during pioneering animal-sonar studies, to his brilliant technical work at the family-owned and run Kildare Corporation of New London, where he hand-built cutting-edge sonar transducers of his father's design. When he retired from Kildare, he turned his talents to the restoration of antique musical instruments, specializing in stringed instruments (especially violins).
Throughout Jim's life, music was the constant: well-known locally, he was always in demand by bands of many genres, and made indelible friendships along with much memorable music. In his most recent years in New London, Jim was a member of the Americana/roots quartet DogBite, with whom he recorded two CDs, and also played upright bass in the trio Golden Ratio; in addition to these regular gigs, he was always ready to sit in with other friends on the scene, and took especial pride and pleasure in playing benefit concerts.
He is survived by his mother, Mary, in Virginia; his sister, Meg Fitzgerald, with her husband, Guido Boeger, and daughter, Sanni Lévesque, in Germany; his cousin, Meg Ahrendt, and her family, of Parkton, MD; other siblings and nieces and nephews, as well as many Aunts, Uncles and cousins, and their families; and his companion and best friend, Carol R. Barboni, with Tarbelle the kitty.
A private, family memorial and burial are planned for a later time in Wisconsin.
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with his family, please click the link below.