James Edward Fitzsimmons, age 97, passed away on July 8th, 2023 in Walnut Creek, CA. Known as Edward to his family of origin, and Ed to many other family and friends, he was born and raised in Los Angeles, the fifth of seven children of parents Edward (“Pop”) and Elizabeth (“Mom”) Fitzsimmons.

Ed’s family home, located in the Atwater Village neighborhood and next to the Southern Pacific railroad’s approach to downtown Los Angeles, shared space with his father’s commercial art and paint shop. Growing up in the Depression, the Fitzsimmons family and their whole community worked hard to provide for themselves and each other. Along with his schooling, Ed earned money working in a box and crate factory, and began learning the craft of woodworking, a hobby he would return to in later years.

He attended Loyola High School, where he excelled as an athlete and participated in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Turning 18 in December 1943, Ed graduated a semester early and enlisted in the U.S. Merchant Marine, where his brother Jack was already a ship captain. From boot camp, Ed was selected to attend officer basic training, and was then assigned to the first crew of the new tanker ship, SS Mission Santa Clara. After completing the ship’s sea trials, Ed then spent June-December 1944 shuttling fuel to support Navy combat operations in the Western Pacific from refinery supply points in the Caribbean.

In 1945, Ed attended the newly-established U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point on Long Island, NY, where he continued his officer training and used his small windows of free time to sample the cultural and entertainment riches of New York City. He completed his officer training at Kings Point in early 1946 and shipped out for several more months at sea, which included travels in Europe.

Returning to Los Angeles, Ed transferred his Merchant Marine commission to the U.S. Navy Reserve, and began college at Loyola University. He graduated with a degree in business in 1950, and was immediately activated for naval service in the Korean War. After additional training as a communications officer, he was assigned to the amphibious assault ship, USS Montague and served on its crew for most of 1951-52 in support of United Nations operations around Korea, and throughout East Asia.

Ed then returned once again to Los Angeles and civilian life, where he sampled law school and a few different jobs before joining the Shell Oil Company, where he would spend the rest of his career. At Shell, he worked his way up from retail sales to the position of real estate representative, scouting, buying, selling, and managing the affairs of service station properties.

Around the time of this new career start, Ed met fellow Los Angeles native Colleen Crowley at a Catholic Newman Club dance. They were married in 1958, beginning a warm, loving, and productive partnership of over 62 years, ending only with Colleen’s passing in 2021. Ed and Colleen had five children – Celeste, Katie, Tom, Tim and Michael – who were born and raised across many different homes where Ed’s job took the family: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Medford, OR, Carmichael, and finally settling in Concord, CA.

Ed retired from Shell in 1989 after more than 30 years of service and after acquiring countless Shell coffee mugs, t-shirts, Oakland A’s baseball tickets, and the occasional college scholarships for his children. In his retirement, he was able to pursue his passion for woodworking, building elegant and sturdy furniture still enjoyed by his family today. He volunteered for the local St Vincent De Paul’s charity, and also enjoyed traveling with Colleen on several active, educational Elderhostel vacations.

But Ed’s first and highest love was always family. He was born into a tight knit, loyal and loving family, and he brought that same dedication to his role as husband and father. As a strong, devout Catholic, he was a model and exponent of moral rectitude and responsibility. But his personality was also full of warmth, positivity, and generosity, even in the face of adversity. He laughed easily, charmed strangers, and made friends wherever he went.

Ed loved music and dancing, and could be found singing on almost any day up until his final days. He also loved history, and world affairs, and passed on to his children his love of music and learning and his appreciation of the importance of the public interest.

He is survived by his five children and four grandchildren, Emma, Jamie, Declan, and Jack, who will forever cherish their time with him and honor his memory and his example of a wonderful life well-lived.

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