Obituary of Raymond H. FitzGerald

Raymond H. FitzGerald, retired owner of FitzGerald Construction, passed away after a long illness on Monday evening, September 24, 2018. He was 70 years old. Ray was born in Chelsea. He was one of four sons born to Commander David and Anne (Stroman) FitzGerald. Ray’s father was a career Naval serviceman and the family moved with his father’s assignments. But, for the most part, he considered Malden his home. He graduated from Malden High School. He would later earn his Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from University of Massachusetts, Boston. Ray served in the Navy for over 3 years during the Vietnam War. He was the Aircraft Director aboard the Aircraft Carrier, USS Ranger. He was the recipient of the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon. Ray was a man who loved working with his hands and could fix almost anything. He owned and operated FitzGerald Construction for 35 years. He did residential and some commercial contracting work. He remodeled kitchens and baths, built additions, and any other carpentry project. He was a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. He had many loyal and repeat customers who always relied upon Ray’s workmanship and trustworthiness. Over the years, he had resided in Billerica, Salem, Burlington, and Malden. When purchasing a home, he always picked a fixer uppers in nice neighborhoods. Sometimes he would strip the home almost to the bone and then remodel it to meet his expectations. He always wanted to keep the architectural integrity and details of the homes, some of which dated back to the 1800’s. As well as being able to repair or build anything in or around a home, he was also a whiz when it came to cars, boats, or anything else with an engine. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and share his construction skills and knowledge to his family and friends with the understanding that he would be fashionably late. Ray loved the time he shared with his family. He owned a home in Bartlett, NH for many years. Winters were spent skiing at Attitash, Wildcat, and Cranmore Ski Resorts. Summers were spent swimming, exploring, and enjoying family time. Then he tried a new hobby, boating. He purchased a 32 foot Cabin Cruiser, which he named “On The Edge”. He docked the boat on the Merrimac River and then in Boston Harbor. There were many memorable cruises shared with his family and friends. He also enjoyed Scuba Diving. He dove off the shores of New England and many of the Caribbean Islands. He finally stopped diving when he was in his 60’s. He loved sports and sharing that passion with his children. He coached his son’s hockey teams and took his son and daughter to Red Sox, Patriots, and Bruins games. He was in the stands, sidelines, and audience as his children and grandchild participated in their sports, school events, and dance recitals. His children always knew that Ray loved them unconditionally would do anything for them. When his Alzheimer’s disease progressed, his family all worked to keep Ray safe, happy, and in his own home. Ray was the beloved husband of Michele (Lavoie) FitzGerald. He was the loving father of Eric R. FitzGerald & his wife Jackie of Burlington and Teresa R. Ricardo & her husband Paul of Billerica. Brother of David E. FitzGerald of Salisbury, James FitzGerald of Salisbury, and John FitzGerald of San Diego, CA. Proud grandfather of Anna E. Ricardo. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington on Saturday Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Services will conclude with a funeral service at the funeral home starting at 1 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Memorials in Ray’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 or www.alz.org/manh.