John Michael Fitzgerald

John Michael Fitzgerald, a former 35-year Lab employee, died May 26 after a long battle with cancer. He was 68.

Fitzgerald was born Aug. 24, 1939, in Wisconsin and lived in Superior through his high school years, leaving there to serve in the U.S. Navy with honor. Upon completing his service, he attended Upsala College in New Jersey before moving to San Jose State where he graduated in aeronautical engineering and later earned an MBA.

He began working at the Lab in 1963 in programs conducting research in alternative energy. He received the Computation Directorate Distinguished Achievement Award for Sustained Excellence in 1996.

He was a youth soccer coach for his sons’ teams and served as a leader in the Y-Guides program. He enjoyed camping with his family each summer in Lake Tahoe and boating. He gave his daughter lessons on the guitar and shared music and songs with her. He enjoyed his garden and his dogs, spending time outside and walking at Del Valle, where his family says, his biggest smiles could be found.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie (Gale) Fitzgerald; and his children, Patrick Fitzgerald, (wife Valorie and son Aidan) of Modesto, Calif.; Thomas Fitzgerald ( wife Michele and children Sean and Katelyn) of Arcata, Calif., and daughter, Kathleen Fitzgerald of Seattle; his sisters Cecelia Campbell, Patricia World, Barbara Carey and Margaret Moen, all of Wisconsin.

Formal services will be held in Superior, Wis. for his family and friends at St. Francis Church at the end of July. California friends are welcome to a gathering on June 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Del Valle Recreational Park to celebrate his life. Those attending should ask at the Del Valle entrance for location of the reservation.