John E. Fitzgerald, of Taunton, MA died on January 19, 2010 at Massachusetts General Hospital after a short illness. A writer, critic and former Adjunct Professor at Emerson College; John gave deeply to his family and so many of those whom he taught and wrote for during his 83 years.
The son of the now deceased Loretta (Burke) Fitzgerald and John E. Fitzgerald, Sr., a former Mayor of Taunton. He was educated at Coyle High School in Taunton. Prior to attending and graduating from Stonehill College, he was a seminarian for several years with the Holy Cross Fathers at The University of Notre Dame, in Indiana. He also earned a Master of Fine Arts from Fordham University.
A native of Taunton, MA his interests and gifts led him to many places. He was a lover of the written word, movies, theater and music. And he was fortunate to be able to translate those into a life of creative accomplishments.
He served during World War II, in the Army Air Corps, as both a medic and a disc-jockey – testament to his wide range of talents.
He arrived in New York City in 1954 to attend graduate school at Fordham University. His true geographical romance was with Manhattan where he resided for 20 years and returned often.
He served for 16 years as the nationally syndicated entertainment critic for Our Sunday Visitor, a national Catholic newspaper, with a circulation of more than six million during his years as critic. In 1959 he was awarded the Screen Directors Guild of America’s Critic’s Award for his Outstanding Contribution to Motion Picture Criticism.
He returned to New York City in 1965 where he continued to work for the Our Sunday Visitor and as a freelance writer. Since then, his writings have been published in many publications over the years including The New York Times, Los Angles Times and Variety.
John’s curiosities and desire for knowledge were reflected in his teaching, which he felt afforded him more importantly the opportunity to learn, as it did to teach. An Adjunct Professor at Emerson College for 28 years, (retiring at 80) he taught writing for all forms of media – movies, television, politics and print. He was deeply dedicated to his students and demanded commitment and tenacity from them.
He is survived by: his wife of 50 years, Dolores (Kokot) Fitzgerald, of Taunton, his daughter Anne-Marie Fitzgerald and her partner Lynda Tocci of Somerville, his grandson Coleman Fitzgerald Hirschberg also of Somerville, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John Kokot and Margaret Mead and niece Elizabeth Kokot, all of Canton.
A memorial Mass in celebration of his life will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church, Broadway (Rte. 138) in Taunton, MA on Saturday January, 30, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers his family has established a legacy fund in his honor to share his devotion to reading at The Taunton Public Library. Donations may be directed to: The John E. Fitzgerald Legacy Fund, Friends of The Taunton Public Library, 12 Pleasant Street, Taunton, MA 02780.