Joseph J. Fitzsimmons OBITUARY

Joseph (Joe Fitz) passed away peacefully on June 10, 2024 in Concord At the age of 87. He was a long time resident of Walnut Creek, Clayton, and Concord. We lost a father, brother, and friend, he was a character and will be missed by many.Joe grew up in East Orange, New Jersey. He was the fourth son born to James and Anne Fitzsimmons and was blessed with a twin sister Nancy. Growing up, Joe was a good athlete, excelling in basketball at Saint Benedict’s Prep in Newark New Jersey, where he was a standout point guard. After high school, Joe gravitated towards All Things Automobiles. He followed his passion and attended General Motors Institute of Technology in Flint Michigan for three years and graduated in 1958 with a management and mechanical engineering degree. He then went to work for Pontiac Motor Division of GM in New York City.His tenure with Pontiac took him and his family from New York to Connecticut, Massachusetts, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and finally Walnut Creek CA in 1976. All told he spent 30 years at GM and another 20 years in the Retail Car business in the east bay!He really lived for family and friends. He was an outstanding husband to Nora Patricia for 41 years until her passing in 2001. He had more love and joy to give so he married again to Carole Walsh. They enjoyed 10 great years together until an illness took her. Joe also enjoyed a loving relationship with Barbara Conway for the last 9 years prior to his passing.Fitz made friends everywhere he went. He was known for his kindness and generosity, perfect Manhattan cocktails, ready laugh and the love of ice cream. Joe is survived by his three children Joe Fitzsimmons Jr. (Marcie) John Fitzsimmons (Izumi) Karen Nieporte, his twin sister Nancy Fitzsimmons and his four granddaughters Kasey, Molly, Gabrielle and Olivia that he was so very proud of, as well as many nephews and nieces and dear friends.A significant source of pride and passion was his involvement with De La Salle and Carondelet High School’s development teams, where he and Patricia helped create and grow successful fundraising events with other like minded families to help with tuition costs for needing and deserving students.We thank our family and friends for their love and support especially during his recent health challenges. We are grateful for the care and support from Suncrest Hospice and the outstanding staff at Oakmont of Montecito in Concord, that looked after Fitz for the last 11 years!Family and friends are invited to a funeral mass at St Bonaventure’s Catholic Church 5562 Clayton Road Concord, CA on Friday July 12, 2024 at 10:30 AM followed by a gathering to continue to celebrate his life.In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks for comparable donations in Joe’s name to De La Salle High School (dls.org/givenow) or Carondelet High School (carondeleths.org/give) in Concord, CA.