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Archer Pease FitzGerald, of Westfield, MA, passed away on Thursday, August 30, 2007. He was born in New York City on January 9, 1919 and was the son of the late Archer W. FitzGerald and Mary Pease FitzGerald. During his youth, he spent summers, holidays and many weekends in the town of Worthington, MA where his family owned a home and where he developed a love of dairy farming through his wonderful friendship with the late Franklin and Helen Burr. He went through the public school system in New York City and worked for Continental Can Company. He was a World War II veteran and served in the U.S. Marine Corps participating in the historic Normandy Invasion on D-Day, June 6, 1944. After the war, he relocated to Albuquerque, NM where he was married and worked in the city bus business with his father-in-law, the late Joseph Land. He eventually became President and General Manager of the Albuquerque Bus Company from 1955 until 1965. He was a Son of the American Revolution, a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Ballut Abyad Shrine Temple in Albuquerque. He was also a past president of the Albuquerque Rotary Club and served on several boards including the New Mexico Society for Crippled Children and Adults and the Bataan Memorial Methodist Hospital. He was also a charter member of the Four Hills Country Club. In 1966, he moved to Suffield, CT and later to Williamsburg, MA where he operated a successful storm window business for over 30 years. In Williamsburg, he realized his lifelong dream of owning a farm (Maple Crest Farm) where he raised a small herd of cattle, cut hay, cultivated a fine garden and produced excellent maple syrup. He also served on the Finance Committee for the Town Of Williamsburg and was a member of the Worthington Golf Club. He is survived by Dorothy Land FitzGerald, his loving wife of 61 years; a son, Richard of Fremont, CA; and a daughter, Barbara Kearnan and her husband, Robert Kearnan of Marietta, GA. He was a true patriot who adored his country, loved his cows, enjoyed life on his farm and cherished his many warm friends. A Memorial Service will be held in his beloved town of Worthington, at the First Congregational Church on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.. Internment will be at the family burial plot. Donations may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children at 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104, Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice Services at 77 Mill Street, Westfield, MA 01085 or the charity of one's choice.
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