John Warner Fitzgerald

JOHN W. FITZGERALD Grand Ledge Mackinac Island Former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, John Warner Fitzgerald, died Friday, July 7th in the Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace after an extended illness. He was born in Grand Ledge in 1924. The son of the late Michigan Governor Frank D. Fitzgerald and Queena Warner Fitzgerald, Justice Fitzgerald pursued a career in public office beginning in 1958 when he was elected to the Michigan State Senate. He was elected to the original Michigan Court of Appeals in 1964 and he was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in 1973 for a one-year term. Subsequently, he was elected to a full 8 year term. He did not to seek re-election. Justice Fitzgerald was on the original board of directors of Thomas M. Cooley Law School and in 1983 he taught the first class of the fledgling school. He later resigned from the board to take a position there as professor of law. At the time of his death he was still associated with the law school. Justice Fitzgerald served in the United States Army in World War II. He was graduated from Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan Law School. He was a member of a number of professional organizations and affiliated with the First Congregational, United Church of Christ of Grand Ledge and the Little Stone Church, Union Congregational on Mackinac Island where he and his family have had a summer cottage for 46 years. Survived by his wife, Lorabeth, Justice Fitzgerald also leaves two sons and two daughters-in-law. The sons are Eric Stiles of Denver and Adam Warner and his wife, Lisa Sell, also of Denver. A daughter-in-law, Ruth Davey Fitzgerald, survives along with the deceasedâ€™s grandchildren, Ellen Lora and John Wesley Fitzgerald. A beloved niece, Emily Fullerton, and her husband Paul of St. Ignace survive. A son, Frank Moore Fitzgerald, died suddenly in December of 2004. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Grand Ledge Congregational Church, 210 W. Saginaw Highway, Grand Ledge. The family will receive friends at the long-time Fitzgerald residence, 219 W. Jefferson, Grand Ledge 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11th. The Holihan-Atkin Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Those who wish, may send contributions for scholarships to Cooley Law School, designated â€œIn memory of Professor John Fitzgeraldâ€, at Box 13038, Lansing MI 48901 The family wishes to recognize the professional and compassionate care given by Dr.Paul Zack and his staff over many years.

John Warner Fitzgerald

November 14, 1924 - July 7, 2006