Donal F Fitzgerald

Donal F Fitzgerald, 96, of Bonita Springs, FL, died February 18, 2023 at Life Care Center of Estero, Estero, FL.

He was born April 24, 1926 in Winsted, CT to Maurice F Fitzgerald and Mary (O’Brien) Fitzgerald.

He graduated from The Gilbert School in Winsted, CT in 1943. He then attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a year before he was drafted into the Navy during WWII. He served in the Philippines as a radio technician and was discharged in 1946. He then returned to college and graduated from WPI with a degree in chemical engineering in 1949.

After graduation he worked for Merck and GE before returning home to Winsted to run the family business, Son-Chief Electrics. He married Barbara May from Malverne, NY, raised his five children and was an active member of the community serving on the boards of Connecticut Bank and Trust and The Winsted Memorial Hospital. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Rotary Club, served on the Parking Commission, and was a member of the Highland Lake Sailing Club.

Upon retiring he and Barbara moved to Bonita Springs, FL, where he rekindled his passion for painting and studied Chinese brush painting, water color, and acrylics. A hobby he had not practiced since his summer of study at the Yale School of Art after the war.

He is survived by his four daughters, Patricia Melrose of Larchmont, NY, Elizabeth Smith of Newport, RI, Alexandra Fitzgerald of Groton, CT and Moira Relac of Weston, CT. Also sons-inlaw David Melrose and Boyd Relac and daughter-in-law Barbara Ryan Fitzgerald and her husband Dave Whitney. Grandchildren Maura (Matthew) Cullen, Garrett (Michelle) Smith, Conal Smith, Sarah (Michael) Reid, Julia (Stephen) Connor, Callum Melrose, Mahley (Max) Fitzgerald-Harrell, Sean Fitzgerald, Ian Ryan, Ellen Relac, and Charlotte Relac. Great-grandchildren Mia Smith, Hawkins Cullen, Alexandra Reid, and William Connor.

He was predeceased by his wife Barbara and his son Michael; his brothers Gerald and Edward Fitzgerald and his sisters Elizabeth Doherty, Lina Wagner, and Rita Conant.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Joseph’s Church in Winsted on June 3rd at 11am.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Greenwoods Scholarship Foundation.