William Ennis FitzGerald, the beloved patriarch and light of our family, died on July 23, 2014 surrounded by his family, at his favorite place on earth, the family home on Lake Candlewood in Danbury, CT. Bill was born in Danbury, Connecticut on April 13, 1924 to the late John J. and Anna C. FitzGerald. The love and discipline his parents gave him held him in good stead throughout his life, starting with the building of their house on Lake Candlewood in 1931. Forced to move out of their home during the Depression, Bill's family began constructing a one-room house from scratch on land his father had purchased before the lake was created, doing all of the work themselves. Bill had many memories of hammering nails and pushing wheelbarrows full of dirt from a very young age. That work ethic was a part of every endeavor he undertook throughout his life. He was a proud veteran of World War II, having served in General Patton's 3rd Army, 11th Armored Division. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, earning the Purple Heart. After several days in the hospital, he insisted on returning to his unit to continue fighting with his fellow soldiers. His unit was the first to arrive at Mauthausen Concentration Camp, and the atrocities he saw there haunted him for the rest of his life. He returned from the war with an urgent need to make his time on earth count and to leave this world a better place. He immediately completed high school, which he had left to volunteer for the army, then graduated from the University of Connecticut and finally UConn Law School. He was in private practice before becoming a partner at the law firm of Howard, Kohn, Sprague and FitzGerald in Hartford with his brother, Rohde. In 1974, he became Judge of Probate for the town of Manchester, a position he held for 20 years, compassionately helping grieving families in Manchester until mandatory retirement struck at age 70. He then, not ever ready to really retire, continued a small law practice of his own until Dec. 31, 2013. Throughout all of those years, he worked tirelessly at various volunteer positions in town government and other civic organizations, always with the goal of improving the community. He served on the Manchester Board of Directors, and on numerous committees. One of his proudest accomplishments was the work that he did with many other dedicated Manchester citizens to restore Cheney Hall. He was a proud Democrat and worked for the Democratic Party for many years. At about age 40, he and his patient wife learned to snow ski to keep up with his daughters. He became hooked and was a dedicated skier, having skied at over 45 ski areas throughout the world with his ski club and family, taking his last run shortly before his 89th birthday at Stratton with his two special ski buddies. Above all other things was Bill's love for, first and foremost, his devoted wife Jonice, and his daughters Debbie Gemme and Megan FitzGerald and her husband, Todd Edgington, his brother Rohde and sister-in-law Shirley, his brother-in-law Ronnie Schmidt and his wife Carol, and the light of his life, his grandchildren, Fitzy Gemme, Kristen Gemme Brandenburg and her husband Loren, and William and Marty Edgington, all of whom survive him and hold his memory dear. His extended family was also extremely important to him, including his cousins Mary Jane and Jack Behling, Roger and Marilyn Nolan, Richard and Vivien Keane, and the families of Betsy and Rich Didan, John C. and Debbie FitzGerald, and Ann and George McFee, and other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. No words can express the love we held for him, and the central role that he played in our lives. His love was unconditional and constant, and we will eternally miss him, his laugh, and his boundless enthusiasm for life. We know he is up there, looking down on us to be sure we are working hard before sitting down for cocktails! A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 1st from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center Street, Manchester, CT, followed by a reception at the Arbors Retirement Community, 403 West Center Street, where Bill and Jonice have happily made their home and countless friends for the last 14 years. In lieu of flowers, Bill would appreciate any contributions going to Cheney Hall Foundation c/o Michael Pohl, President, 177 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT 06040 or a special charity dear to your heart. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com