Huriah "Tom" Fitzgerald, counted his blessings
Huriah Thomas “Tom” Fitzgerald III, 69, died Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at his home overlooking the Nanticoke River in Seaford. He was born May 28, 1946, son of the late Huriah Thomas Fitzgerald II and Irene May (Lynch) Fitzgerald.
In his early years, Tom grew up in Lincoln, and spent his summers at Slaughter Beach. After graduating from Milford High School in 1964, Tom attended Appalachian State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education. After graduation, Tom began his teaching career in the Milford School District. During his summers, he was a lifeguard with the Rehoboth Beach Patrol. In 1972, he met and married his late wife, Beverly. The couple moved to Boone, N.C., where Tom graduated with a master’s degree in Education in 1972 from Appalachian State University. After graduate school, Tom returned to Delaware and spent 30 years working at the Indian River and Laurel School Districts as a guidance counselor, administrator, and transportation director. Tom coached wrestling for 12 years at Laurel High School and Indian River High School. During his coaching tenure at Laurel, Tom led six wrestlers to state championships. In 1993, Tom was lucky enough to fall in love again when he met and married his wife Beth Fitzgerald. In 2003, Tom retired from education to travel and spend time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
While Tom experienced many tragedies in his life, he also experienced many triumphs and always chose to focus on the good. When his wife died, leaving him a single father to seven children, Tom’s strength and resilience persevered. Years later, instead of remembering those years with sorrow, Tom would remark on how amazing it was to have family and friends who stepped in to help him. He would recount how his mother had moved in with the family for several months and continued to lend a helping hand the rest of her life.
When he was diagnosed with cancer, Tom once again focused on the wonderful family he had raised and the great experiences of his life that included raising his children, marrying the two loves of his life, and being a Pop Pop to his grandchildren. He was a man who counted his blessings instead of his sorrows.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Beverly (Gallo) Fitzgerald; his daughter Amanda Lea Fitzgerald, and his son Nicholas Patrick Fitzgerald.
He leaves his wife of nearly 20 years, Beth (Kelley) Fitzgerald; his children, Huriah Fitzgerald IV, Gregory Fitzgerald, Rebecca Madrid, Cameron Fitzgerald, Samantha Fitzgerald, Victoria Ksebe, and Ryan Fitzgerald; his siblings, Sandra Dill, Steve Fitzgerald, and Craig Fitzgerald; and his grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 2 p.m. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Moving for Melanoma of Delaware, P.O. Box 954, Middletown, DE 19709.
