Patrick FitzGerald

FITZGERALD, The Hon. Patrick Stanley C.D., Q.C., retired Justice of the Superior Court of Ontario, on the 7th day of May, 2015, aged 97. Born in Calgary October 6, 1917 to the late Arthur and Winifred, he is predeceased by his beloved wife and partner of 67 years, Olive (Linda) nee Saxby and survived by their four children, Christopher (Patricia), of Sault Ste. Marie, Jane of Toronto, Timothy of Simcoe, and Sarah (Tim Wade) of Calgary, as well as grandchildren, Richard, Sarah Jane, Sean, Heather, Scott, Bradley, Jeffery, Gregory, Melanie, and great grandchildren, Ella, Charlotte, Chelsea and Bennett. Following a BA in Law at University of Toronto in 1940, Pat served in Britain, France, Belgium and Holland with the 6th Anti- Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, being discharged in 1946 in the rank of Captain. He married Olive Mary Letham Saxby on April 1st, 1944 at Wadebridge, Cornwall, England. While in the army, he learned to fly the Austen monoplane, used to direct artillery fire from the air, and continued this passion by later in life becoming a licensed glider pilot instructor. After discharge, Pat completed the 18 month bar admission course at Osgoode Hall and in May, 1947 joined Arthur A. Wishart, Q. C. to practice law in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. During his career, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1959 and was elected a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada and served for 10 years as President of the Community Concert Association of Sault Ste. Marie. He joined Rotary in 1956 and was involved in many other community activities, including service with the 49th Field Artillery Regiment at Sault Ste. Marie. Appointed to the District Court in 1974, he served in Fort Frances and then in Thunder Bay where he was appointed Senior Regional Justice until 1987 when he elected supernumerary status at Sault Ste. Marie until his retirement in 1992. Following retirement, he served as a member of the Ontario Parole Board and as a mediator. He also joined the Board of the Algoma Arts Festival Association. He was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 in recognition of his services as Vice-Chairman of the Ontario Legal Aid Plan in its formative years. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Friday, May 15, 2015 from 6 to 8 pm. Memorial service celebrated from St. Luke’s Cathedral on Saturday, May 16th, 2015 at 11 a.m. The Very Rev. James McShane officiating. Inurnment St. Luke’s Columbarium follows. Gifts in his memory to St. Luke’s Cathedral or the Veterans Commemorative Monument or the charity of your choice would have earned his grateful approval. (Arrangements entrusted to the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre 705-759-2522). Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.arthurfuneralhome.com.