William B. Fitzgerald Jr. entered eternal life at the age of 65. He died from colon cancer.
Throughout the 1970s, Mr. Fitzgerald was one of the most visible figures in Michigan politics. He was the Democratic Party candidate for the office of governor in 1978.
He was born on Detroit's east side and attended Austin Catholic High School in Detroit and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where he played on the basketball team. Upon graduation, he became a teacher and basketball coach at Detroit's St. Martin High School while also attending Detroit College of Law at night. As head coach at St. Martin's, Mr. Fitzgerald transformed a team with a no-win season into runner-up in the state division championship game.
After graduating from Detroit College of Law, William Fitzgerald, Jr. practiced law until his father, State Representative William B. Fitzgerald Sr., suffered a fatal heart attack in 1970. He was then elected to his father's vacant house seat in November, 1970. He was elected to the State Senate four years later and immediately selected as Senate leader.
He was, and remains, both the youngest Senate majority leader in state history, and the only Senate majority leader to have been selected for this top Senate post while still a member of the State House of Representatives — before he was officially sworn in as a senator.
His two-year term as Senate majority leader was exciting by any standard, as "Billy Fitz" persuaded members of the Senate Democratic caucus to advance controversial "post-Watergate" legislative reforms. This legislation imposed new standards that included disclosure of outside income by public officials, the state's first statutory code of ethics and public disclosure of campaign expenses.
He also helped engineer the creation of the state's first "rainy day fund," developed to allow the state to save money in good years and avoid tax increases during downturns in the economy. Another achievement of this session was the legislation creating the state's model land trust fund. Under the Kammer Fund, private land has been purchased by the state and transformed into public land for recreational use.
As early as mid-1975, Democratic committees began forming across Michigan to make Mr. Fitzgerald his party's nominee to unseat two-term incumbent Gov. William Milliken. The 33-year-old Detroiter began to build his campaign. His message emphasized proactive economic development, increased status for Michigan workers, strengthened political reforms, and tough environmental standards in light of the chemical contamination of the state's beef supply. In the weeks before the November 1977 election, the popular Milliken pulled out of a statistical dead-heat with Mr. Fitzgerald to win a third term.
In 1982, after his second bid for a statewide office fell short, Mr. Fitzgerald focused his efforts on his law practice. In the past two decades, he had built a substantial health care benefit consulting and health care administration business with clients located across the state.
In 1986, Mr. Fitzgerald married Margaret O'Neill in a ceremony at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, Grosse Pointe Farms, where he was a longtime member. Their sons, William and John, are on the dean's lists at Western Michigan University and Michigan State University respectively, and daughter Meghan is a freshman honor student at Grosse Pointe South High School.
Mr. Fitzgerald was a distinguished alumni award recipient from WMU and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon WMU chapter. He was a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, and Delta Theta Phi co-educational law fraternity.
He also was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.
Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife, Margaret; children William, John and Meghan; mother Eleanor J. Fitzgerald; brother Timothy (Karen); nephews Timothy and Michael; parents-in-law Edward and Rita O'Neill; sisters-in-law Kathleen O'Neill, Mary Ellen (James) Cassady, Barbara (Clair) Hoehn, and Maureen (Timothy) Kapala; and brother-in-law Timothy (Diane) O'Neill.
He was predeceased by his father, William B. Fitzgerald.
Visitation: Wednesday, February 6, 2008, 1-9 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at Chas. Verheyden Funeral Homes Inc., 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe.
Funeral Mass: In state Thursday, February 7, 2008, 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms
Memorial donations may be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, P.O. Box 161150, Austin, TX 788716-1150 or at livestrong.org.
**Serenity Prayer**
Grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change...
Courage to change
the things I can
and Wisdom
to know the difference.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Throughout the 1970s, Mr. Fitzgerald was one of the most visible figures in Michigan politics. He was the Democratic Party candidate for the office of governor in 1978.
He was born on Detroit's east side and attended Austin Catholic High School in Detroit and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where he played on the basketball team. Upon graduation, he became a teacher and basketball coach at Detroit's St. Martin High School while also attending Detroit College of Law at night. As head coach at St. Martin's, Mr. Fitzgerald transformed a team with a no-win season into runner-up in the state division championship game.
After graduating from Detroit College of Law, William Fitzgerald, Jr. practiced law until his father, State Representative William B. Fitzgerald Sr., suffered a fatal heart attack in 1970. He was then elected to his father's vacant house seat in November, 1970. He was elected to the State Senate four years later and immediately selected as Senate leader.
He was, and remains, both the youngest Senate majority leader in state history, and the only Senate majority leader to have been selected for this top Senate post while still a member of the State House of Representatives — before he was officially sworn in as a senator.
His two-year term as Senate majority leader was exciting by any standard, as "Billy Fitz" persuaded members of the Senate Democratic caucus to advance controversial "post-Watergate" legislative reforms. This legislation imposed new standards that included disclosure of outside income by public officials, the state's first statutory code of ethics and public disclosure of campaign expenses.
He also helped engineer the creation of the state's first "rainy day fund," developed to allow the state to save money in good years and avoid tax increases during downturns in the economy. Another achievement of this session was the legislation creating the state's model land trust fund. Under the Kammer Fund, private land has been purchased by the state and transformed into public land for recreational use.
As early as mid-1975, Democratic committees began forming across Michigan to make Mr. Fitzgerald his party's nominee to unseat two-term incumbent Gov. William Milliken. The 33-year-old Detroiter began to build his campaign. His message emphasized proactive economic development, increased status for Michigan workers, strengthened political reforms, and tough environmental standards in light of the chemical contamination of the state's beef supply. In the weeks before the November 1977 election, the popular Milliken pulled out of a statistical dead-heat with Mr. Fitzgerald to win a third term.
In 1982, after his second bid for a statewide office fell short, Mr. Fitzgerald focused his efforts on his law practice. In the past two decades, he had built a substantial health care benefit consulting and health care administration business with clients located across the state.
In 1986, Mr. Fitzgerald married Margaret O'Neill in a ceremony at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, Grosse Pointe Farms, where he was a longtime member. Their sons, William and John, are on the dean's lists at Western Michigan University and Michigan State University respectively, and daughter Meghan is a freshman honor student at Grosse Pointe South High School.
Mr. Fitzgerald was a distinguished alumni award recipient from WMU and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon WMU chapter. He was a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, and Delta Theta Phi co-educational law fraternity.
He also was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.
Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife, Margaret; children William, John and Meghan; mother Eleanor J. Fitzgerald; brother Timothy (Karen); nephews Timothy and Michael; parents-in-law Edward and Rita O'Neill; sisters-in-law Kathleen O'Neill, Mary Ellen (James) Cassady, Barbara (Clair) Hoehn, and Maureen (Timothy) Kapala; and brother-in-law Timothy (Diane) O'Neill.
He was predeceased by his father, William B. Fitzgerald.
Visitation: Wednesday, February 6, 2008, 1-9 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at Chas. Verheyden Funeral Homes Inc., 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe.
Funeral Mass: In state Thursday, February 7, 2008, 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms
Memorial donations may be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, P.O. Box 161150, Austin, TX 788716-1150 or at livestrong.org.
**Serenity Prayer**
Grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change...
Courage to change
the things I can
and Wisdom
to know the difference.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
William B. Fitzgerald Jr. entered eternal life at the age of 65. He died from colon cancer.
Throughout the 1970s, Mr. Fitzgerald was one of the most visible figures in Michigan politics. He was the Democratic Party candidate for the office of governor in 1978.
He was born on Detroit's east side and attended Austin Catholic High School in Detroit and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where he played on the basketball team. Upon graduation, he became a teacher and basketball coach at Detroit's St. Martin High School while also attending Detroit College of Law at night. As head coach at St. Martin's, Mr. Fitzgerald transformed a team with a no-win season into runner-up in the state division championship game.
After graduating from Detroit College of Law, William Fitzgerald, Jr. practiced law until his father, State Representative William B. Fitzgerald Sr., suffered a fatal heart attack in 1970. He was then elected to his father's vacant house seat in November, 1970. He was elected to the State Senate four years later and immediately selected as Senate leader.
He was, and remains, both the youngest Senate majority leader in state history, and the only Senate majority leader to have been selected for this top Senate post while still a member of the State House of Representatives — before he was officially sworn in as a senator.
His two-year term as Senate majority leader was exciting by any standard, as "Billy Fitz" persuaded members of the Senate Democratic caucus to advance controversial "post-Watergate" legislative reforms. This legislation imposed new standards that included disclosure of outside income by public officials, the state's first statutory code of ethics and public disclosure of campaign expenses.
He also helped engineer the creation of the state's first "rainy day fund," developed to allow the state to save money in good years and avoid tax increases during downturns in the economy. Another achievement of this session was the legislation creating the state's model land trust fund. Under the Kammer Fund, private land has been purchased by the state and transformed into public land for recreational use.
As early as mid-1975, Democratic committees began forming across Michigan to make Mr. Fitzgerald his party's nominee to unseat two-term incumbent Gov. William Milliken. The 33-year-old Detroiter began to build his campaign. His message emphasized proactive economic development, increased status for Michigan workers, strengthened political reforms, and tough environmental standards in light of the chemical contamination of the state's beef supply. In the weeks before the November 1977 election, the popular Milliken pulled out of a statistical dead-heat with Mr. Fitzgerald to win a third term.
In 1982, after his second bid for a statewide office fell short, Mr. Fitzgerald focused his efforts on his law practice. In the past two decades, he had built a substantial health care benefit consulting and health care administration business with clients located across the state.
In 1986, Mr. Fitzgerald married Margaret O'Neill in a ceremony at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, Grosse Pointe Farms, where he was a longtime member. Their sons, William and John, are on the dean's lists at Western Michigan University and Michigan State University respectively, and daughter Meghan is a freshman honor student at Grosse Pointe South High School.
Mr. Fitzgerald was a distinguished alumni award recipient from WMU and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon WMU chapter. He was a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, and Delta Theta Phi co-educational law fraternity.
He also was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.
Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife, Margaret; children William, John and Meghan; mother Eleanor J. Fitzgerald; brother Timothy (Karen); nephews Timothy and Michael; parents-in-law Edward and Rita O'Neill; sisters-in-law Kathleen O'Neill, Mary Ellen (James) Cassady, Barbara (Clair) Hoehn, and Maureen (Timothy) Kapala; and brother-in-law Timothy (Diane) O'Neill.
He was predeceased by his father, William B. Fitzgerald.
Visitation: Wednesday, February 6, 2008, 1-9 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at Chas. Verheyden Funeral Homes Inc., 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe.
Funeral Mass: In state Thursday, February 7, 2008, 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms
Memorial donations may be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, P.O. Box 161150, Austin, TX 788716-1150 or at livestrong.org.
**Serenity Prayer**
Grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change...
Courage to change
the things I can
and Wisdom
to know the difference.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Throughout the 1970s, Mr. Fitzgerald was one of the most visible figures in Michigan politics. He was the Democratic Party candidate for the office of governor in 1978.
He was born on Detroit's east side and attended Austin Catholic High School in Detroit and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where he played on the basketball team. Upon graduation, he became a teacher and basketball coach at Detroit's St. Martin High School while also attending Detroit College of Law at night. As head coach at St. Martin's, Mr. Fitzgerald transformed a team with a no-win season into runner-up in the state division championship game.
After graduating from Detroit College of Law, William Fitzgerald, Jr. practiced law until his father, State Representative William B. Fitzgerald Sr., suffered a fatal heart attack in 1970. He was then elected to his father's vacant house seat in November, 1970. He was elected to the State Senate four years later and immediately selected as Senate leader.
He was, and remains, both the youngest Senate majority leader in state history, and the only Senate majority leader to have been selected for this top Senate post while still a member of the State House of Representatives — before he was officially sworn in as a senator.
His two-year term as Senate majority leader was exciting by any standard, as "Billy Fitz" persuaded members of the Senate Democratic caucus to advance controversial "post-Watergate" legislative reforms. This legislation imposed new standards that included disclosure of outside income by public officials, the state's first statutory code of ethics and public disclosure of campaign expenses.
He also helped engineer the creation of the state's first "rainy day fund," developed to allow the state to save money in good years and avoid tax increases during downturns in the economy. Another achievement of this session was the legislation creating the state's model land trust fund. Under the Kammer Fund, private land has been purchased by the state and transformed into public land for recreational use.
As early as mid-1975, Democratic committees began forming across Michigan to make Mr. Fitzgerald his party's nominee to unseat two-term incumbent Gov. William Milliken. The 33-year-old Detroiter began to build his campaign. His message emphasized proactive economic development, increased status for Michigan workers, strengthened political reforms, and tough environmental standards in light of the chemical contamination of the state's beef supply. In the weeks before the November 1977 election, the popular Milliken pulled out of a statistical dead-heat with Mr. Fitzgerald to win a third term.
In 1982, after his second bid for a statewide office fell short, Mr. Fitzgerald focused his efforts on his law practice. In the past two decades, he had built a substantial health care benefit consulting and health care administration business with clients located across the state.
In 1986, Mr. Fitzgerald married Margaret O'Neill in a ceremony at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, Grosse Pointe Farms, where he was a longtime member. Their sons, William and John, are on the dean's lists at Western Michigan University and Michigan State University respectively, and daughter Meghan is a freshman honor student at Grosse Pointe South High School.
Mr. Fitzgerald was a distinguished alumni award recipient from WMU and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon WMU chapter. He was a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, and Delta Theta Phi co-educational law fraternity.
He also was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.
Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife, Margaret; children William, John and Meghan; mother Eleanor J. Fitzgerald; brother Timothy (Karen); nephews Timothy and Michael; parents-in-law Edward and Rita O'Neill; sisters-in-law Kathleen O'Neill, Mary Ellen (James) Cassady, Barbara (Clair) Hoehn, and Maureen (Timothy) Kapala; and brother-in-law Timothy (Diane) O'Neill.
He was predeceased by his father, William B. Fitzgerald.
Visitation: Wednesday, February 6, 2008, 1-9 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at Chas. Verheyden Funeral Homes Inc., 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe.
Funeral Mass: In state Thursday, February 7, 2008, 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms
Memorial donations may be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, P.O. Box 161150, Austin, TX 788716-1150 or at livestrong.org.
**Serenity Prayer**
Grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change...
Courage to change
the things I can
and Wisdom
to know the difference.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
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