Ed FitzGerald

Edward Leo FitzGerald, 86, died peacefully on January 24, 2023. He was born to John Laurence and Mary Elizabeth FitzGerald in 1936, in Kansas City, Missouri. In his formative years he soaked up the wisdom of the neighborhood around 39th and Flora, which he imparted over a lifetime to anyone who would listen. “Try to sit behind somebody smart.” “Cheat if you have to.” (For more philosophical nuggets from this period, refer to “Summer with the Blues,” the story of his life as a 14-year-old that he wrote and published when he was 84 years old.)

With that early guidance in hand, he graduated from Lillis High School in 1953 with letters in four varsity sports and the nickname “Fast Eddie.” Ed went on to graduate from Rockhurst University in 1957 and the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law in 1960. He married the love of his life, Barbara Ann FitzGerald (née Widmer), on New Year’s Eve 1960, widely considered his best move.

Ed’s successful law career began as a clerk for the Hon. Richard M. Duncan, District Judge, Western District of Missouri. He went on to serve as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Jackson County, Missouri, from 1966 until 1972 and was the (junior) partner in the firm Downey, Sullivan, and FitzGerald for 50 years. Somewhere in the process, he became a pecan farmer and grew to be an expert in grafting pecan trees, of all things.

Ed was always up for watching a Chiefs or Royals game or meeting out on the court for a game of handball, tennis, golf (two holes-in-one!) or, most recently, pickleball. He had a quick wit and a twinkle in his eye. He was genuinely interested in all the people he met, and he knew just about everyone. Ed had a soft spot for the underdog and relished finding ways to help, whether driving a truck to deliver pantry donations for St. James Parish or helping support the educational aspirations of kids in his orbit. He treasured celebrating every graduation, important game, wedding, and family vacation. A voracious reader and world traveler, he loved learning lessons from history. Ed lived life to the fullest up to his last days, most recently adventuring to New York City with his friend Marti Kreamer.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife Barbara, and brother Tom. A lifelong Kansas City resident, he leaves behind too many friends to name. He is survived by his brothers Larry and Jim (Irene), brother-in-law Butch (Debbie), and by his five children: Cary, Patrick (Amy), Jim (Alice), Ted (Katy), and Molly Gosnell (Andrew). Ed is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Theo, Mike, Colleen, Betsy (Greg), Megan, Kevin, Cara, Bridget, Phoebe, and Effie. Services will be held at Visitation Church in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 31, 2023, at 10:00 AM with reception to follow at Tighe Hall.

The service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/visitationtv

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are welcome and can be made to Our Lady of Mercy Country Home (https://www.ourladyofmercy.net).