John William Fitzgerald was born on May 13, 1944, in St. Joseph MO to John and Geraldine Fitzgerald. He was the oldest of four children and was preceded in death by his brother Stephen Fitzgerald.

When he was three his parents moved the family to North Hollywood CA. He attended Notre Dame high school and California State University at Northridge and graduated in 1966. He was commissioned in August of ’66 as an Ensign and began his 30-year career in the Navy, and retired as a Captain. John met his wife Terri at his parish teen club when he was 15 and she was 13. Three years of dating and a three-year engagement, they were married on June 25, 1966. After serving on the USS Eldorado, he was stationed in Naples Italy in 1968 and during that time, their sons, Robert “Rob” and Ryan Fitzgerald were born. John had assignments in San Diego, CA, Long Beach, CA, on board the USS Long Beach, Dallas, TX, Reading, PA, Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, FL and New Orleans, LA.

He was a 27-year member of San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church, where he served as a Lector and was passionate about the Christ Renews His Parish ministry there. Many of his fellow CRHP brothers will remember him every time the Chapel is put together.

John passed away at home on April 24, 2026, where his family was able to tell him how much they loved him and how he would be missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Terri, with whom he shared nearly sixty years of marriage; his sons Rob and Ryan, and their wives, Michelle and Ellie; his grandchildren, Alex, Timothy, Riley, Samantha, and Jonathan; his sisters, Jean Menard and Kathleen Bratton, and Kathleen’s husband Jim; his brother-in-law, Mike Nolan; his nephews, Chris Menard, Michael and Daniel Nolan, and his niece, Carrie Shook and her husband Timothy.

His Funeral Mass will be held on May 16, 2026, at 12pm at San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Tunnel to Towers or Community Hospice.