James J. Fitzgibbons

James J. Fitzgibbons

TROY - James J. Fitzgibbons, went on to eternal rest Tuesday, December 27, 2005.

Mr. Fitzgibbons was predeceased by his wife, Helen M u rt h a F it z g i b b o n s after 39 years of marriage. He is survived by his second wife of 24 years, Virginia Horan Fitzgibbons.

A native of Buffalo, Mr. Fitzgibbons was a long time resident of the capital city area having resided primarily in Troy. A graduate of Canisius College, he later received his masters degree in engineering from the University of Buffalo and performed doctoral studies in public administration at Syracuse University. He was awarded an Honorary Doctoral degree from the State University of New York. Upon completion of training at the U.S. Naval Academy, he was commissioned as an officer in Naval Reserves as the U.S. entered World War II. Mr. Fitzgibbons then performed advanced research at MIT and Bowdoin College and was instrumental in the development of the Navy's Long-Range Aid to Navigation which was vital to the allied naval forces in fighting WWII. As a naval lieutenant, he served in both the North Atlantic and Pacific campaigns and was awarded multiple campaign medals.

Mr. Fitzgibbons returned to Buffalo after the war, and was later recruited to join in the establishment of the Troy Veteran s Vocational Institute, which later became Hudson Valley Technical Institute, the predecessor to Hudson Valley Community College.

As HVCC's second president, Mr. Fitzgibbons presided over an impressive period of growth at the college throughout the 1960s and 1970s that saw the rise of many new buildings and a dramatic increase in student enrollment. During his tenure, HVCC's curricula doubled the number of academic programs, and the college was organized into five academic divisions.

Mr. Fitzgibbons retired from HVCC in 1979 and was later called on to provide advice and counsel to the SUNY system and served as interim president of Nassau Community College in the early 1980's.

An avid golfer, Mr. Fitzgibbons was a long-time member of the Country Club of Troy where he enjoyed the friendship of the members as much as the golf itself.

Mr. Fitzgibbons leaves his beloved special son and golf partner Bernard; his son, James and his wife, Carol; his son, Michael, and his wife, Marilyn; his daughter, Ann Eileen and her husband, Sandy Hackney, and his son, Thomas and ins wife, Judith. In addition to his children, six grandchildren, one great-grandson, he is survived by four step-grandchildren and their families'.

Funeral services will be held with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am on Monday, January 2, 2006, at Sacred Heart Church, Pawling Avenue, Troy. A reception will he held at the Country Club of Troy immediately following the services. A private burial will he held at St. Mary s Cemetery in Troy.

The Fitzgibbons family would like to thank the staff of Samaritan Hospital and the Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center for their care and attention these last few years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rensselaer ARC, Poestenkill Residence, 79 102nd St., Troy, NY 12180.

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