Clifford Peter FitzGerald, 78, of Atlantis, FL and Mattapoisett, MA passed away at his home on June 13, 2017, from natural causes.
Born in Newton, MA, the son of the late Helen (Carey) FitzGerald and John Joseph FitzGerald, he attended Newton High School where he met the love of his life, Ginnie Milott, on Christmas Eve. At Boston University, he was an outstanding hockey player who became Captain of the team. In his honor, his family created the Clifford P. FitzGerald Scholarship which is awarded annually to a top rising junior or senior Terrier defenseman.
After graduating from Boston University in 1962, he and Ginnie were married and young Peter headed off to pilot training at Craig Air Force Base near Selma, Alabama as a Second Lieutenant. He went on to distinguish himself flying with the Strategic Air Command as well as the Tactical Air Command in Plattsburgh, NY, and Columbus, Ohio. During the Vietnam War, Captain FitzGerald flew more than 100 missions over Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam. Flying the WC130-A out of Udorn, Thailand and the Island of Guam, he was an integral part of a then-classified “Weather Modification” program to create thunderstorms to washout Vietcong supply routes like the Ho Chi Minh trail.
After two tours of Vietnam, Captain FitzGerald left active duty with the Air Force in 1969, to fly for a new southern upstart company named Delta Airlines. With a brief stint as an Engineer on the DC-8, he quickly progressed to co-pilot of the DC-9, Boeing 727, and L-1011. He was then promoted to Captain on the MD-80 and finally the Boeing 757/767. During his tenure with Delta, he assumed increasing positions of responsibility in the Air Force Reserves which culminated with him leading the Florida Civil Air Patrol and being promoted to Colonel.
Throughout his over 20 years of military service, Colonel FitzGerald served his country with honor and distinction. By the time he retired from the Air Force in 1992, Colonel FitzGerald had been awarded numerous medals including the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with oak leaf clusters, the Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze star for participating in over 29 campaigns, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. He then retired from Delta Airlines in 1995 to enjoy life as a full-time racing aficionado, golfer, and summer time lobsterman.
Preceded in death by his wife Ginnie, survivors include two daughters, Jacqueline “Lyn” Brown, and her husband Lawton, of McLean, VA, and Karen “Kira” Langolf, of Atlantis, FL; one brother, Paul Carey FitzGerald and his wife Jane of Sandy Hook, CT; and four grandchildren, Bradford FitzGerald Brown, Garrett Lawton Brown, Carey Amelienne Brown, and Brigette Adrienne Langolf.
His Funeral will be held on Thursday, June 22nd at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett, followed by his Funeral Mass at St. Anthony's Church in at 10 AM. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday, June 21st from 4-8 PM. Colonel FitzGerald will be buried with military honors in St. Anthony's Cemetery.