William J. Fitzgerald, 79, of Connelly

William J. Fitzgerald, 79, of Connelly, died Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, at HealthAlliance Hospital, Broadway Campus, in Kingston.

Born Dec. 26, 1938, in Kingston, he was the son of the late John and Elizabeth (Dunn) Fitzgerald.

Mr. Fitzgerald graduated from Redemptorist Seminary, North East Pa., and attended SUNY New Paltz for Business Management and Accounting. He served our country in the United States Air Force. He was employed at Hercules Inc. Port Ewen, N.Y., as development lab technician; at Atlas Chemical Industries, Valley Forge, Pa., as product engineer; Colt Firearms, Atglen, Pa., as sales engineer; Caldor, Kingston N.Y.; AT&T, Basking Ridge, N.J., as corporate finance manager and business process designer. Bill retired from AT&T/Avaya Communication in 2001. In retirement, Bill worked as a real estate broker for Mary A. Bono Real Estate from 2003-2018.

A member of the Third Order of Franciscans and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, he served as the Honorary Mayor of the Day. Active in firematics, he was the chairman of the board for the South Rondout Fire District; and was a life member, captain of fire police and chaplain for Hasbrouck Engine Co. No. 1, Connelly Fire Department. Mr. Fitzgerald was a friend of Bill W. for 42 years.

Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Hannelore (Osterwald) Fitzgerald; four sons, Michael Fitzgerald and his wife Tonya, John Fitzgerald and his wife Darlene, Aaron Fitzgerald and his wife Sharrice, and Sean Fitzgerald; grandchildren, Michael, Margaret, Alexandria, Jenny, Casie, Aaron, Sydney, Aaliyah, Amirah, Hanne, and Katherine; and one great grandson, Caleb; sisters, Madeline “Maggie” Rodden and her husband William, and Patricia Fitzgerald Barnett. Beloved daughters-in-law Ilona, Jennifer and Stacey; nieces and nephews, Kyle Barnett, Bruce Denise and Lisa Gille, William Rodden III, as well as a dear friend, Helen Majestic, also survive.

A sister, Mary Fitzgerald Gille, died previously.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home Inc., 27 Smith Ave., Kingston (www.jvleahyfh. com).

Friends will be received at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral procession will form at the funeral home Wednesday at 9 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Port Ewen. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Kingston.