Mark Y. Fitzgerald

On Monday, May 16, 2022, Mark Fitzgerald was called to his last Rendezvous, back to the loving hands of the Lord. Surrounded by family and friends, he passed away quietly from his battle with brain cancer. He was 59 years old.

Mark had the most visceral need to be part of nature from a very young age. His parents, Catherine and Carlton, were from the Boston area and worked as a hairdresser and truck driver. Mark was driven to learn as much as he could about fishing and hunting wherever he could, often with his childhood friends Dave and Chuck.

His childhood was full of stereotypical 1970’s things like a banana seat Schwinn and ball games on the street with the other neighborhood kids (that's you Linda C.). He was ever in search of the best fishing techniques and trail signs to track deer movement patterns. When he got older and worked as a Mechanical Assembler, he and his “crew” were still often found bass fishing, at archery or muzzle loader shoots, making good food or cruising around on ATVs or in their cars.

In 1990, Mark met his wife Kelli, and they married a few years later. Overjoyed, they became parents of their son Adam in 1994 and then Adam became a big brother in 1997 to his sister Sarah. The family became complete with his beloved dogs, Jack, and Jack’s puppies, Max and Molly.

Mark started to have significant pain in his hands and feet a little while after Sarah was born and soon, he was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. Even through the pain, he continued to share his love of the outdoors with the family, creating the most concrete bond imaginable. As he spent more time at home, he grew to have a great love of cooking, gardening and bird watching. These were great pastimes to admire Nature’s beauty once more.

In 2004, Mark lost his dad to lung cancer and mum to kidney cancer in 2019. But in 2021, the most perfect grandson ever was born to Sarah, and again, Mark swelled with love and pride. Mark and Kelli came to celebrate 32 years, always at each other’s side of richer or poorer, sickness and health, agreeing to never part, even in death. We will walk together again in time, on that beautiful shore.

“The way that you wander is the way that you choose,
The day that you tarry is the day that you lose.
Sunshine or thunder, a man will always wonder.
Where the fair wind blows.”

Visiting hours will be held Friday, May 20th from  5:00-7:00 pm at McGaffigan Funeral Home, 37 Main St. (Rte. 113) Pepperell, MA. Photo memory boards will be there to display any memories you wish to share. Please include name and address on the back for return.

A Celebration of Mark’s Life will be held Saturday, May 21st from 1:00-5:00 pm at the Pepperell VFW Post 3291, 55 Leighton St. Pepperell, MA. Contact Vinny Shertzer or Kelli Ann Tibbetts Fitzgerald by Facebook Messenger and your message will be passed on to him.

In lieu of flowers please donate in memory of Mark to the Dana Farber for brain cancer research.