In Memoriam
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Michael A. Fitzgerald  Lt.
Col. (Ret.) Michael A. “Fitzer” Fitzgerald passed away on
March 28, 2024, from complications of acute myeloid leukemia.Fitzer was born in New York, New York, grew up in Watsontown, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Warrior Run High School, where he was president of the student council, played varsity basketball and baseball, and was a member of the concert choir and elected to their hall of fame. He went on to the Air Force Academy, where he met his wife, Kathy, then a student at Colorado State University. He graduated from CS-09 with a degree in general engineering. Fitzer served on active duty from 1968 until 1990. He began active-duty life at the Air Force Intelligence School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, and then was deployed to Vietnam. He married Kathy on Fort Shafter in Honolulu, Hawaii, while on R&R from Vietnam. After his return from Vietnam, he completed a master’s degree in systems engineering at the University of Southern California in 1978 before working tirelessly on the development of special surveillance and imaging satellite systems, intercontinental missile systems along with other high technology applications including advanced flying platforms. Some of his active-duty titles included: chief of advanced systems and planning branch of the Defense Dissemination Program Office, chief of the systems integration and requirements division of the USAF’s Ballistic Missile Office and deputy director of research for strategic applications in the National Reconnaissance Office. After retiring from active duty, he worked as a program manager and technical lead on many intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs as a contract professional with several different companies. Most recently, he spent his days working as the senior executive vice president and co-founder of Galactic Harbour Associates, Inc., where he served as the chief architect for the International Space Elevator Consortium. Fitzer was an avid sports fan, master of completing honey-do lists and a tireless reader of novels. He also enjoyed traveling the world with Kathy, cooking dinner on the backyard grill and sipping on good wine. Fitzer was an active member of the Fort MacArthur Catholic Chapel in San Pedro, California, where he also served as a lector. Fitzer is survived by Kathy, his wife of 54 years, two sons, Brad and Brian, grandchildren Samantha and Jack, sisters Claire and Kathleen and brother George. (Brian, Fitzer’s son) The Air Force Academy Association of Graduates & Foundation have recently learned of the death of Lt. Col. (Ret.) Michael A. Fitzgerald, CS-09, Class of 1968. Colonel Fitzgerald passed away on March 28, 2024, in Torrance, California. A funeral service will be held at 10 am on April 25, 2024, at the Fort MacArthur Chapel, 2400 South Pacific Ave., Los Angeles, California. A reception will follow the service. A burial service will be held at 1:30 pm at Green Hills Mortuary, 27501 South Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, California. His family has suggested memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Air Force Academy Fund. Please choose "View all giving opportunities" and then choose "Air Force Academy Fund". Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his wife, Kathy: Mrs. Kathy Fitzgerald, 28615 Mt. Vancouver Ct., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. |
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