Edward Henry Fitzgerald Jr of Arlington, MA

B.12/22/30 D.1/9/2024

He’s packing a drawer full of colors to use at will; a rabbit to pull out of his hat, and a hat that says Flag Rock

Indelible wit lies in wait, a warriors soul surrounds the knack of conjure and his tail of friends is 93 years long.

He’s riding it out on his candy-apple red Harley with a poppy in his teeth, boxing gloves dangling and his trademark “TKO” tag supercharging from the rear; not that he needs a license for anything.

Let’s rev up our motors and tenderly escort him to the pearly gates, to rejoice with his beloved family- Lisa Robinson

Eddie Fitz grew up in Medford MA, served as an Altar boy, attended Saint Clements Catholic school, and joined the Navy at age 19. Deployed on the USS Salem, he coached boxers and established and edited the ship’s newspaper. After his service he worked at Pinkerton Detective Agency and later as a tax examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Born busy, Ed lived his life as an athlete, coach, referee and champion of youth sports. He danced, boxed, played hockey, skied, rode horses and Harley’s. A natural teacher, he coached little league, taught his own kids to ride, ski, hike and camp. He led his young family and raucous cousins on late winter expeditions up the grueling trail to camp and ski the headwall of Mt Washington.

As an amateur boxer he was named Welterweight Champion with a record of 19-1. He beat Paul Pender twice (Pender went on to become the middleweight champion of the world), and “Stormin Norman” Hayes, a street-tough prizefighter from Roxbury.

An esteemed Referee for 50 years, Eddie was known for protecting his athletes: “you can’t call a fight too early but you can call it too late”. At the Golden Gloves in Lowell in 1988, an epic brawl broke out when he called the fight after numerous infractions on both sides; the final straw when DeGrandis swore at him. Instantly the fight was called; Scully won and all hell broke loose. Ed had to be escorted out for his safety.

Ed got a kick out of being cast as an extra in the movie The Departed, and as the announcer in The Fighter; look for him 10 minutes in.

As a teen after WW2, he gathered a group of friends at White Horse Beach in Plymouth, grabbed a nearby dingy and rowed out to the large rock jutting out of the ocean to paint the American Flag. The rock became known as Flag Rock.

Whenever local fallen heroes came across his radar, he used his sway to create honorary namings, scholarships or permanent memorials. He initiated fundraisers, and worked long days on poppy drives to raise money for veterans for many years. Throughout his life he quietly worked behind the scenes to help others, with a soft spot for the underdog. He was the recipient of many awards and an Icon of the sport of boxing.

“Eddie Fitz, you don’t owe nuttin to nobody” - proclaimed by a prizefighter who ran into Eddie on the street one day in Boston

Member:

St Clement’s Hockey Team

National Ski Patrol

Lexington VFW; past Commander

Ring 4, Veteran Boxers Association

Boxers Fund State of MA

Somerville Boxing Gym

US Military Vets MC Club, co-founder, past president

State Boxing Fund

USS Salem

Ed passed peacefully at age 93, with his family by his side.

Son of the late Helen Bradley Fitzgerald and Edward H Fitzgerald Sr of Medford Massachusetts

Ed was predecessor by beloved sisters Helen Wedge and Joan Kennedy

Survived by wife Mary Lou Shields of Arlington, Ma, former wife Virginia (Lavelli) Fitzgerald Lovett of Meredith NH, and the late Roberta Carrol of Somerville MA

Daughter Lisa and husband Scott Robinson DVM of Gilmanton NH, son Brad Fitzgerald and Debbie Fitzgerald of Laconia NH, son Ted and Tina Fitzgerald of Northfield NH, son Scott and Josianne Fitzgerald of Meredith NH, stepson Christopher and Suzanne Shields of Watertown MA, stepdaughter Elizabeth Shields and Russell Geer of Dorchester MA, grandchildren Kayla Raphael of Broomfield Colorado, Hailey Groleau and Kevin of Gilford NH, Sidney Chmielewski and Chris of Northfield NH, Michael Fitzgerald of NY,NY, Andreina Fitzgerald of Blacksburg VA, Sierra Rose Geer of Quincy MA and great grand children Waylon Groleau, Theo Groleau and Lincoln Chmielewsky as well as many nieces and nephews and cousins.

A celebration of life will be held at the Lexington Knights of Columbus, 177 Bedford St Lexington MA, January 28, 12-4 pm. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to his memorial scholarship fund in Ed’s name. C/O Brad Fitzgerald,

1462 Old North Main St Laconia NH 03246.

Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden MA; the family plot originating in 1905, TBA.

A second memorial celebration will take place at White Horse Beach, Plymouth MA in late spring, in conjunction with Ring 4 Boston. Date to be announced. 

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