Sean Francis Fitzgerald

Sean was a caring bright spark in the world, and will be very missed by dear family and friends. Sean is survived by his wife, Kathleen (nee Forbes), Son Ryan Fitzgerald (Dang), grandsons Kenneth and Dean, sister MaryAnn Fitzgerald-Kelly, (Peter Kelly.). He was preceded in death by his parents, father James R. Fitzgerald, mother, Myra (nee Sullivan), and brother, Dennis J. Fitzgerald. He also leaves beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nephews, many dear friends and colleagues, physicians and medical industry professionals in various countries.

Sean was born August 4, 1940 in Chicago, (River Forest), IL. He attended St. Vincent Ferrer grade school and Fenwick H.S., graduated 1958. Sean aspired to become a physician, following in the footsteps of his father, James R. Fitzgerald M.D., a renowned Ophthalmologist in Chicago IL., and his grandfather, Lawrence F. Sullivan M.D., General Practitioner, Davenport, IA. In Tallahassee, on June 14, 2004, to the date, a Centennial Celebration was held in commemoration of 100 years of continuous experience in medicine, a proud family accomplishment.

Sean’s medical education ranged from beginning pre-med 1958, attending Notre Dame University, South Bend, IL, graduating 1962. He earned his medical degree from University of Illinois, Chicago Medical School, graduating 1966. He completed his internship training from 1966-1967 at Charity Hospital (Tulane Medical School) New Orleans, LA. Sean went on to complete his residency training at Baylor College of Medicine affiliated hospitals, Houston TX., 1969-1974. Sean was the Chief Resident at Baylor, working under the strict eye of internationally known, general and cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey, from 1969-1970 His intensive surgical skills training under Dr. DeBakey and, hospital Chairman Dr. George Ehni, Sean completed his training, and earned his degree in Neurological Surgery 1974. During these training years, Sean also served his country in the U.S. Navy, LCDR, Medical Corps 1966-1969 in the Republic of Vietnam. He was the OIC of the Hoa Khanh Children’s Hospital and Orphanage.

While treating local children and families, Sean and staff managed hospital mash units to provide urgent care to American servicemen. Sean loved hats, one of them being his U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran cap, which he wore often. Sean’s early medical career brought him around the world for specialized training from the Univ. of Copenhagen, Denmark, University of Sydney, Australia, and, The National Hospital for Neurological Diseases in London, England. He is a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners.

He truly enjoyed his neurosurgeon profession, and greatly relished operating and assisting colleagues. Sean’s career has spanned over 50 years, early on in Chicago, as a pediatric surgeon and later relocating to Tallahassee, FL. He had a private practice as a Board Certified Neurosurgeon, in Tallahassee from 1984-2008; being on staff at all local hospitals.

Sean was also a former faculty member of Florida State University. In 2009, Sean was offered an M.D. Associate Professor-Clinical Medicine teaching position for Ross University School of Medicine, on the island of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Medical students from pursued their medical degrees until 2017, when Dominica was destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Sean always thought it was uncanny that he was born on the feast day of St. Dominic, 8/4/40, took Dominic for his confirmation name.

His elementary/high school years were taught by The Dominican Brothers. Living/working 8 years on the lovely, volcanic island of Dominica was ‘icing on the cake’. Ross U transferred everyone to a temporary U.S. location, and , at semester’s end, Dr. Fitzgerald decided to retire his long white Doctor coat in 2018. Traveling, which he loved, he met some of his best ‘mates’ who reside in Australia. While on R&R in Vietnam he spent time ‘down under’ with his life long friends, maybe Sean is singing “Waltzing Matilda” with a cold ‘VB’ in hand.

We will miss Sean, and his excitement when it came to BarBQue, Chicago deep dish pizza, beef and sausage sandwiches, anything to do with French food and sauces. Fish soup, from the Fish Camp in Neptune Beach FL., fellow foodie Dr. Simon Harrison of the U,.K, and homemade, in that order.

Exercise was the rule in Sean’s life, and he became a dedicated athlete , participating in all the big time city marathons through the years. He also was a frequent participant in the World Medical Games, designed for those who work in health and medical fields. Biking, kayaking, walking, swimming filled his life. Open wheel racing, Road America~WI, dogs, and the Chicago White Sox and Notre Dame College football soothed his sports soul.

After a long engagement, Sean and Kathleen married in 2011, and spent 24 years as best friends, soul mates to the end. Sean’s son, Ryan, and his 2 young grandsons, lit up Sean’s life, and time spent together his son’s family was golden.

A FUNERAL MASS on Saturday September 10, at 11am, will take place at GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 4665 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32309. A Reception will be held after mass in the Community Center hall. Please, we invite you all; if you can’t attend and would like to see the mass, it will be LIVE STREAMING ON YOUR COMPUTER. GO TO -https://goodshepherdparish.org/livestream. Go to drop down menu for Funerals, Sean Fitzgerald. Click Stream box and turn up the volume as it is muted. Thank you.

Culley’s Meadowood Funeral Home is available for info. Please contact Ms. Erin Burchfield, Funeral Director at 850 877-8191 Sean’s Dignity Page is available for messages, etc.

If you care to share a donation to a charity in Sean’s name, he would be so proud. If you have your own charity selection, and can give support, please do so, and Thank You.- Doctors Without Borders, Dementia Society of America, Humane Society-America, Feed the Children, Paralyzed Veterans of America, American Cancer Society, and the Peyton Tuthill Foundation.

~Forever in our Hearts~We Love You Sean ~

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CulleysMeadowWood.com for the Fitzgerald family.