Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 16/Feb/2021 71.223.75.248
Dr. David E. FitzGerald of Cornwall-on-Hudson died on Saturday, February 13, 2021. He was 80. A lifelong Hudson Valley resident, he was born in Newburgh, New York, to D. Edward and M. Frances (Shinners) FitzGerald on April 14, 1940. Following his mother's death in 1943, Dr. FitzGerald grew up alongside his six sisters, father, and stepmother Helen (Spreer) FitzGerald. Dr. FitzGerald graduated from Newburgh Free Academy, Providence College, and Pennsylvania College of Optometry, earning honors in both college and graduate school. Afterward, he served as a Captain in the United States Army. At the time of his death, Dr. FitzGerald was retired from the faculty and Clinical Professor Emeritus at SUNY College of Optometry, where he had taught for decades. At SUNY, he co-founded the Infant's Vision Clinic and developed a pediatric residency program. He authored countless peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Prior to teaching full time at SUNY, Dr. FitzGerald practiced optometry in Newburgh for thirty years, jovially telling patients who sought reading glasses that they "needed their arms lengthened" and those who sat on their glasses that "hindsight is 20/20." His professional associations were numerous. He was a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry and a Diplomate in Pediatric Optometry, as well as a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. In addition, he was a 50-year member of the American Optometric Association. Beyond his professional life, Dr. FitzGerald selflessly served his church and community. A parishioner of Sacred Heart of Newburgh and St. Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Churches, Dr. FitzGerald coached the Sacred Heart boys' basketball team and spearheaded fundraising for the Parish Center. Dr. FitzGerald was a life member and past president of the Newburgh Lions Club, and he served on the Cornwall Board of Education, the Cornwall Assessment Board of Review, and the Cornwall-on-Hudson Zoning Board. He was also a member of the Cornwall Historical Society and the American Legion. Yet his most impressive accomplishments were his personal ones. In 1965, he married Marie Totonelly, the enduring love of his life, with whom he had been smitten since childhood, and together they raised three children. Dr. FitzGerald faithfully rearranged his schedule to attend his children's numerous sporting and extracurricular events and did the same for his grandchildren in later years. He tirelessly supported their efforts, coaching Cornwall Senior and Big League baseball teams, serving as president of the Cornwall Swim Team, and minding the kitty at the Rudolph Rumble as a Dragon Lacrosse Booster. His grandchildren referred to him as Pop Pop and through the years he was the constant in their lives. Being a morning person served him well, as he could get the grandkids to the school bus on time each morning and maintain his title as breakfast maker extraordinaire. All will remember him for his sense of humor. He loved to tell jokes, so much so that he developed the skill of making a short joke last forever. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marie; children, David P. FitzGerald (Lynn Airasian) of West Simsbury, Connecticut; Colleen Dunning of Cornwall-on-Hudson; and Suzanne FitzGerald of Bethesda, Maryland; and grandchildren, Morgan, Noah, Kendall, and Daniel FitzGerald; Zachary, Abigail, and Molly Dunning; Jack and Joshua Pfefferkorn. Other survivors include his six sisters, Ann (William) Babcock of Mount Holly, New Jersey; Kathleen Mazzarelli of New Windsor; Eileen (Alan) McQuiston of Gardiner; Mary (Cole) Kingseed of Cornwall-on-Hudson; Beth (Richard) Fiore of New Windsor; and Peggy (John) Burley of Milton. He will be sadly missed by his nieces, nephews, and cousins with whom he enjoyed many happy times. Dr. FitzGerald was predeceased by his grandson David Benjamin FitzGerald and son-in-law David Pfefferkorn. A memorial mass will be held on Wednesday, February 17th at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 340 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, at 10 am, immediately followed by a burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to: Cancer Research Institute, 29 Broadway, Floor 4, New York, NY 10006-3111; American SIDS Institute, 528 Raven Way, Naples, FL 34110; or Lions Clubs International, 832 Rensselaer Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10309.
- April 14, 1940 ~ February 13, 2021
Dr. David E. FitzGerald of Cornwall-on-Hudson died on Saturday, February 13, 2021. He was 80. A lifelong Hudson Valley resident, he was born in Newburgh, New York, to D. Edward and M. Frances (Shinners) FitzGerald on April 14, 1940. Following his mother's death in 1943, Dr. FitzGerald grew up alongside his six sisters, father, and stepmother Helen (Spreer) FitzGerald. Dr. FitzGerald graduated from Newburgh Free Academy, Providence College, and Pennsylvania College of Optometry, earning honors in both college and graduate school. Afterward, he served as a Captain in the United States Army. At the time of his death, Dr. FitzGerald was retired from the faculty and Clinical Professor Emeritus at SUNY College of Optometry, where he had taught for decades. At SUNY, he co-founded the Infant's Vision Clinic and developed a pediatric residency program. He authored countless peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Prior to teaching full time at SUNY, Dr. FitzGerald practiced optometry in Newburgh for thirty years, jovially telling patients who sought reading glasses that they "needed their arms lengthened" and those who sat on their glasses that "hindsight is 20/20." His professional associations were numerous. He was a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry and a Diplomate in Pediatric Optometry, as well as a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. In addition, he was a 50-year member of the American Optometric Association. Beyond his professional life, Dr. FitzGerald selflessly served his church and community. A parishioner of Sacred Heart of Newburgh and St. Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Churches, Dr. FitzGerald coached the Sacred Heart boys' basketball team and spearheaded fundraising for the Parish Center. Dr. FitzGerald was a life member and past president of the Newburgh Lions Club, and he served on the Cornwall Board of Education, the Cornwall Assessment Board of Review, and the Cornwall-on-Hudson Zoning Board. He was also a member of the Cornwall Historical Society and the American Legion. Yet his most impressive accomplishments were his personal ones. In 1965, he married Marie Totonelly, the enduring love of his life, with whom he had been smitten since childhood, and together they raised three children. Dr. FitzGerald faithfully rearranged his schedule to attend his children's numerous sporting and extracurricular events and did the same for his grandchildren in later years. He tirelessly supported their efforts, coaching Cornwall Senior and Big League baseball teams, serving as president of the Cornwall Swim Team, and minding the kitty at the Rudolph Rumble as a Dragon Lacrosse Booster. His grandchildren referred to him as Pop Pop and through the years he was the constant in their lives. Being a morning person served him well, as he could get the grandkids to the school bus on time each morning and maintain his title as breakfast maker extraordinaire. All will remember him for his sense of humor. He loved to tell jokes, so much so that he developed the skill of making a short joke last forever. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marie; children, David P. FitzGerald (Lynn Airasian) of West Simsbury, Connecticut; Colleen Dunning of Cornwall-on-Hudson; and Suzanne FitzGerald of Bethesda, Maryland; and grandchildren, Morgan, Noah, Kendall, and Daniel FitzGerald; Zachary, Abigail, and Molly Dunning; Jack and Joshua Pfefferkorn. Other survivors include his six sisters, Ann (William) Babcock of Mount Holly, New Jersey; Kathleen Mazzarelli of New Windsor; Eileen (Alan) McQuiston of Gardiner; Mary (Cole) Kingseed of Cornwall-on-Hudson; Beth (Richard) Fiore of New Windsor; and Peggy (John) Burley of Milton. He will be sadly missed by his nieces, nephews, and cousins with whom he enjoyed many happy times. Dr. FitzGerald was predeceased by his grandson David Benjamin FitzGerald and son-in-law David Pfefferkorn. A memorial mass will be held on Wednesday, February 17th at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 340 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, at 10 am, immediately followed by a burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to: Cancer Research Institute, 29 Broadway, Floor 4, New York, NY 10006-3111; American SIDS Institute, 528 Raven Way, Naples, FL 34110; or Lions Clubs International, 832 Rensselaer Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10309.
- April 14, 1940 ~ February 13, 2021