Charles “Charlie” Rowe Fitzgerald, of Sebastian, Fla., passed away peacefully in his home on Feb. 25, 2016, just two days before his 94th birthday. Charlie was born in Laconia, N.H., on
Feb. 27, 1922, where he attended Tilton Preparatory School.
He later traveled to California to work in aircraft assembly facilities during World War II. Charlie enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a mechanic and was assigned to Ferry Command, and eventually became a flight engineer flying on 6 delivery flights culminating in circumnavigation of the world. He returned to New Hampshire after his service in World War II and met and married the love of his life, Esther May (Stanton).
The couple lived in Tilton, N.H., where Charlie worked in real estate and insurance alongside his father, John Francis Fitzgerald. Charlie went on to work for the United States Postal Service as a Postmaster after his father’s death. He also attended Main Technical Training Center, studying waste water treatment. He went on to work at the Laconia, N.H., Treatment Plant and then the Franklin, N.H., plant from which he ultimately retired.
Charlie was active in local politics, supporting the Democratic Party and serving as the president of the Democratic Party Committee in Tilton, N.H. Charlie and Esther retired to Sebastian, Fla., but continued to take annual trips to Nova Scotia a favorite vacation spot for many years after their retirement.
Charlie is survived by his sister Patricia Smiley Deauville, brother William Taylor Fitzgerald, sister Mary Orton, daughter Sharon Montambeault (David), daughter Sally Hamilton (Clemmett), sons William Fitzgerald (Susan) and John Fitzgerald (LuAnne) as well as 8 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Charlie was preceded in death by his loving wife of 70 years, Esther May, his brother John Fitzgerald, sister Elizabeth McDermott and his grandson Jason Montambeault.
A memorial service will take place in New Hampshire this summer where he and his wife, Esther, will be interned in the Fitzgerald family plot in Laconia, N.H.
Seawinds Funeral Home, www.seawindsfh.com