Dr. James M. Fitzgerald, 83, of Londonderry, NH and Old Lyme Shores, CT, formerly of Wilbraham, MA, died on Saturday, July 4, 2015, on his birthday, after a brief illness. He was born on July 4, 1932 in Springfield, MA a son of John A. and Frances (Hiney) Fitzgerald. He was raised in Springfield and completed his undergraduate degree at the College of the Holy Cross in 1954. He went on to receive his masters and CAGS degrees from Springfield College and his doctorate in Psychology from the University of Arizona in Tucson. James was a resident of Londonderry for the past nine years formerly living in Wilbraham, MA for 35 years.
Dr. Fitzgerald served in the US Army during the Korean War conflict prior to entering his selected field of Psychology. He served as a counselor in the Springfield Public School System for many years and then established and became Director of the Diagnostic Center for the Connecticut Department of Corrections in Somers, CT., where he worked for over 20 years.
He loved his Catholic Faith and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He spent his summers at Old Lyme Shores, CT starting at the age of two weeks, where he enjoyed many summers playing baseball and the company of his best friends. He loved ‘The Beach’. James was a lifelong New York Yankees fan and never missed listening to a game.
James is survived by his wife of 53 years; Nancy (Manning) Fitzgerald, of Londonderry, two daughters; Laura McClure Chandler and her husband Ron of Londonderry and Amy Marsh and her husband Andrew of Londonderry, two sons; James Fitzgerald Jr. and his wife Roula of Derry, NH and Dr. Paul Fitzgerald and his wife Heloisa of Boston, MA, nine grandchildren; Kevin McClure, Ryan McClure, Emily McClure, Nicholas Fitzgerald, Allie Marsh, Luke Marsh, Casey Marsh, Isabela Fitzgerald and Elisa Fitzgerald, a sister; Frances F. Ryan and a brother John E. Fitzgerald. He was predeceased by his brother William F. Fitzgerald.
Calling hours were held on Thursday, July 9, 2015 from 4 – 7 pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry, NH 03053. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, July 10, 2015 at 10 am in St Jude’s Parish, 435 Mammoth Rd, Londonderry, NH 03053. Burial followed in the Holy Cross Cemetery of Londonderry. In lieu of flowers, memorial donation may be made to St. Jude Parish, at the address above, or to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.