Virginia Deborah Fitzgerald

Virginia Deborah Quirke FitzGerald

October 14, 1929 – January 24, 2018.

Ginger was the second of four children born to Mortimer and Ellen (Bird) Quirke. She was born in Waterbury CT and grew up in Naugatuck. She graduated from St. Francis High School and Southern Connecticut State Teachers College (Class of 1951).

She jumped at the chance to leave cold winters, and joined her sister Lillian teaching in Long Beach. She met her future husband Jack FitzGerald camping on the Kern River, married, and moved with him to his Army posting at Fort San Luis Obispo. Ginger walked into a special education teaching job in Oceano, and Pismo Beach was home until the army said move.

Ginger joined Jack in Chicago while he attended medical school and the first three of their seven children were born there. After medical school, Jack completed his training, and went into family practice in California. The family settled in Placerville, CA, where the youngest son was born during a historic blizzard in 1962. Ginger was active in the AAUW group hosting foreign graduate students from UC Berkeley who visited local families. She helped establish the first sheltered workshop for adults with learning disabilities in El Dorado County. She was busy in Placerville where she helped coach the Dry Diggins Dolphin Swim Team and worked as an event timer at many swim meets. She and Jack were on a bowling team and had fun with the other couples in the league. Ginger enjoyed half days golfing and skiing while the kids were in school.

The family moved to southern California for a short time, but returned to small town living in Weaverville CA. Ginger was widowed in her 40’s with 5 children still living at home. She lived in the Sacramento area until her kids all graduated, then moved back to Long Beach so she could be close to her sister Debbie, daughters Terry and Sheila, and son Tom. Her second career was in telephone and retail sales. Her last job before retirement was at Macy’s in the Lakewood Mall. She liked to attend her neighborhood tea group, participate in Weingart Senior Center Craft and Card classes, and go out to lunch with Terry and Lou. She spent many summers as companion to her mother Ellen in her latter years. Ginger loved to travel and went on many trips with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Mert and Ellen Quirke, husband John J. FitzGerald Jr., and sons Thomas and Michael. She is survived by her brother Jack Quirke (Leda), sister Lillian Quirke, children Terry (Lou), Kathy, Patrick, Sheila and Brian,  12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Her generous and positive spirit will be missed.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401