Houston, Texas -

Maurice Patrick Fitzgerald, age 73, passed away on January 9, 2007, after a stoic battle with cancer. Maurice was born on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1933, in Waterbury, Connecticut, the fifth son of Timothy Paul and Anna Moore Fitzgerald. He grew up in Oakville, Connecticut, the second-youngest of eight children. In 1951, he graduated from Watertown High School, where he played soccer and basketball. He entered the University of Connecticut, then transferred to Boston University's School of Communications, where he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in 1955. He then attended Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, and ultimately served as a Surface Warfare Officer on the USS Vigor.

Maurice received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy in 1959, and became a sales representative for Chase Brass & Copper Company in Waterbury, Connecticut. In 1964, he began a career in the industrial plastics field, as a sales representative for Celanese Plastics. With Celanese, he worked and lived with his family in Holliston, Massachusetts, Costa Mesa, California, and Freehold, New Jersey. In 1975, he came to Houston, Texas with his family, to become the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Soltex Polymer Corporation. He graduated from the Stanford University Executive MBA Program in 1977, and spent his remaining career at Soltex, retiring in January, 1995.

Maurice was active in Alcoholics Anonymous and in the recovery efforts of dozens of individuals with chemical dependency issues. He successfully underwent treatment for his alcoholism in 1981, and thereafter devoted substantial time and energy to his recovery, and the recovery of others. He was proud to stay sober for twenty-six years before his passing. Mr. Fitzgerald was also fiercely proud of his Irish heritage, and was a passionate fan of his adopted Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. He loved to travel, and visited forty-seven countries and all fifty states. He enjoyed camping with his family, tennis, golf, opera, classical and Irish music, politics, competitive family card games, fishing and all spectator sports. But above all, he was a loving and devoted grandfather to his eleven grandchildren, whose lives will be touched forever by the wit and love of their kind and clever Grandpa.

Maurice was married to Joan Yurkunas Fitzgerald of Watertown, Connecticut. On December 26 of last year, just weeks before his passing, Maurice celebrated his 50th Wedding Anniversary with his beloved wife Joan, surrounded by their family and serenaded with Irish music.

Maurice is survived by his wife Joan, their son Sean of Flower Mound, Texas (and wife Mary Beth, with children Jennifer, Kelly, Timothy); son Kevin of College Station, Texas (and wife Barbara, with children Ryan, Robin, Rachel & Royce); son Kenneth of Coronado, California (and wife Anne, with children Brendan, Erin, Katelyn and Allison); son Philip of Santa Monica, California (and wife Lucy); and son Maurice of Grand Cayman Island (and wife Patty Nugent). He also leaves brothers Timothy Paul Fitzgerald of Bozeman, Montana; Joseph Xavier Fitzgerald of Madison, Connecticut, John Fitzgerald of Wallingford, Connecticut, and sister Muriel Skelte of Bristol, Connecticut, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins from the extended Fitzgerald clan.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday January 20, 2007 at 10am at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 262 Main St., Oakville, CT. Burial will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to two recovery centers for individuals with alcohol and drug dependency illness: Humble House, 4514 Atascocita Rd, Humble, TX 77346, and Archway Academy, 6221 Main St., Houston, TX 77030. The Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson - Lovetere, 2 School St., is in charge of arrangements. To send an online condolence, please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to two recovery centers for individuals with alcohol and drug dependency illness: Humble House, 4514 Atascocita Rd, Humble, TX 77346, and Archway Academy, 6221 Main St., Houston, TX 77030.

Cemetery: New North Cemetery

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: St. Mary Magdalen

Services: A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday January 20, 2007 at 10am at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 262 Main St., Oakville, CT. Burial will take place in the spring.

Visitation: There are no calling hours.