Benjamin O. Fitzgerald, 84, passed on January 21, 2013 in Dunnellon, FL. Our dad, “Ben,” was born in 1928 at Canaan, Maine to Susie and Benjamin O. Fitzgerald.

Ben married his sweetheart, our mother, Margaret, in 1947, married sixty six years; that is definitely sticking to it. Together they had five children, Darlene Markham (Terry), Cynthia Thibodeau (Tom Cote), Benjamin Fitzgerald (Irene), Ben lost two sons in 2008 Ronald Fitzgerald and Dwight Fitzgerald (Cara) a sadness no parent should feel. Ben came from a large family as did most people of his time. Walter Fitzgerald, Mildred Brennan, Violet Fitzgerald, Wilson Fitzgerald and Geraldine Fitzgerald all went before Ben. Pauline Bowen, Madeline Robinson, Emery Fitzgerald (Barbara), Golden Salisbury (Walter) are left to mourn his passing. Ben was blessed with grandchildren: Shawn Markham (Jennifer), Nicolas Thibodeau (Bobbie), Lisa Thibodeau, Todd Fitzgerald and Troy Fitzgerald (Stephanie).

Then it got even better, he had the pleasure of greatgrandchildren: Samantha and Morgan Markham, Kiley, Cole and Ian Thibodeau.

Ben’s professional career was in law enforcement. Twenty-five years with the Bath Police Department rising to the rank of Sergeant. The next seven years Ben served as Chief of Police for the Town of Wiscasset. On retiring, Ben was quoted “the goals were accomplished.” Ben attended several Law Enforcement and Military Police Schools during his professional career: Babson College in MA, Yucca Flats Test Area in Mercury, Nevada; Military Police School at Fort McClellan in Alabama, just to name a few. Ben was a life member of the Maine Chief of Police Association.

During his law enforcement years, Ben was involved with a group of young men interested in hot rods, the group was known as the “Road Angels.” Being a presence in the community was very important to our Dad.

Ben, like other fellow officers, had to supplement his income. Ben’s entrepreneur career was varied to say the least; in his early years he drove truck for Sam Prawer & Co., later he took on a LP bottle gas company–Fitzgerald’s Maine Gas, he was well known for plowing snow in downtown Bath, he owned and operated several garages, one a Chevron Station in downtown Bath and with his wife owned and operated Richards Restaurant in Bath for seven years. It was at the restaurant he instilled in us (his children) the work ethic. Ben will always be remembered for how hard he worked.

In his private time he decided to learn how to fly and owned an airplane with Bob Dingley. From a child’s view, we each have our own memories of those flying experiences. Growing up on a farm, it is no wonder Ben always had a love for animals, no matter the nature of the critter; he was a “softy” when it came to animals and considered them his very best friends.

During his retirement years, it is good to know; that Ben with Margaret had many good traveling experiences and met a lot of people to call “friend” as they traveled in their “Little Winn” motor home from Maine to Arizona (Lake Havasu home of the “London Bridge”), Texas and Florida.

On May 22, 2013 at 1 PM a memorial service will be held at Lawrys Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield, ME, followed by a committal service at Fairview Cemetery on Route 23 N. in Canaan, ME.

It is an honor to Ben and to us, his family, to know the Bath Police Department Color Guard will be participating at Ben’s service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bath Police Benevolent Association, 250 Water St., Bath, ME 04530.