FRANKLIN - Eugene J. Fitzgerald, 86, of Franklin, died Wednesday, March 12, after a brief illness. He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Carole A. (Gangemi) Fitzgerald.
Born March 30, 1938, in Boston, son of the late Joseph E. and Vonolia Eugenie (Stafford) Fitzgerald, he grew up in the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. A graduate of the Boston Architectural Center in Boston, Gene was an architect for many years, before retiring in 1995.
During his career, he worked for several architectural firms, designing many well-known commercial buildings throughout the state, many of which still stand today. He also founded his own architectural business, l'Atelier, specializing in residential and commercial design.
One of this greatest joys was learning that his granddaughter, Sophia, had decided to follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in architecture.
He enjoyed bass fishing with his wife, Carole, and playing cards every Saturday night with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed reading spy thrillers, especially those written by his favorite author, Daniel Silva.
Gene and Carole spent many years traveling, visiting Italy, Ireland, the national parks, and many other destinations throughout the United States.
He was a lifelong fan of old school country music, particularly Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, and enjoyed opera, including the Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, whom he had the opportunity to see perform in the 1990s.
Gene had enjoyed western films since his childhood and was a huge fan of the golden age of iconic cowboy movies stars.
An avid collector of western, cowboy and native American memorabilia, he also collected old time radio shows from the 1930s and 1940s.
Gene had a lifelong passion for horses, and embraced the cowboy ethic of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and respect for others.
Gene had many other interests, including genealogy, history, gardening and landscaping. He also enjoyed his personal computer and loved to shop for deals on eBay, especially if it was an Italian silk tie he couldn’t resist.
But his greatest joy was his family and beloved pug, Maggie, treasuring time spent together for Christmas and Easter, family fish fries and summer pizza parties at home.Known for his generosity and sense of humor, Gene was always welcoming of guests into his home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four sons, Joseph and his wife Glenda of Hopedale; Michael of Cambridge; Scott and his partner Jeannie of Plymouth and Jupiter, Fla; and Chris and his wife Nicole of Springfield, New Hampshire; a daughter, Lauren Fitzgerald of Norfolk; and four grandchildren, Samuel, Owen, and Sophia Bassick and Lucas Fitzgerald.He is also survived by a brother, Stephen and his wife Denise of Hanover; a sister, Christine Dudley and her husband Paul of South Carolina; and several nieces and nephews. He is predecessed by a sister, Sr. Mary Bernadette F.S.P. (Patricia S. Fitzgerald).
A funeral Mass will be held Monday, March 31, at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, One Church Square, Franklin, MA 02038.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.