September 23, 1918 – July 31, 2017
A Resident of Cupertino, California
“Let your light so shine among others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Jerry FitzGerald was one of God’s shining lights. A man of faith, family, service, and business savvy; Jerry was happiest when he was helping others.
George Gerald (Jerry) FitzGerald was born September 23, 1918 in Santa Cruz, California, a 6th generation California native. He graduated from Oakland High School and received his bachelor’s of business education from San Jose State College. Jerry served in the US Army Quartermaster Corps during World War II. He rose to the rank of major while serving in the Hawaiian Islands.
After the war, Jerry returned to Oakland where he met Mildred “Millie” McKee at Park Boulevard Presbyterian Church. They were married in September of 1950. Their happy family grew to include three sons: Peter; Lee (George Kohn); and Bruce (Kathy); and grandchildren: Ryan (Mara), Kailyn, Colleen, and Joshua.
Jerry was a director of marketing for Kelvinator and Vice President of Marketing at Jacobsen Manufacturing Co in Racine, Wisconsin before acquiring Venture Out, a recreational vehicle company based in Watsonville, CA in 1975.
Jerry and Millie returned to California and settled in Santa Cruz on Pasatiempo Drive. They joined Trinity Presbyterian Church and became active in the community. Jerry joined Rotary International and became president of the Watsonville club. He continued to devote his time and talents to Rotary for many years, attending international conventions, and being made an honorary past district governor in acknowledgement of all his contributions to the organization.
He truly believed in service above self.
Perhaps Jerry’s greatest gift was his ability to gather people together. He was always planning and thinking of ways to make others feel special and welcome. He was famous for his 24 egg white angel food cakes that he baked for his favorite people. He was the host, bar tender, and photographer at many gatherings of family and friends. He took absolute delight in making others happy.
Jerry touched the lives of countless people with his warmth and generosity. He lived a full and rich life, letting his light shine, until he could go home to his Father in Heaven on July 31, 2017.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday August 12 at 2:00 pm at the Forum at Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Cupertino Rotary Endowment Fund, PO Box 1101, Cupertino, CA 95015.
