Thomas Patrick Fitzgibbon

Thomas Patrick Fitzgibbon, age 90, passed away peacefully December 6, 2020. Tom grew up in Brighton as one of the 10 children of John and Julia Fitzgibbon. Tom always recognized the good fortune of being born into this loving Irish family. Tom lived a blessed life as a devoted husband, father, engineer, athlete, sculptor, and writer.

After serving in the Korean War, Tom earned his engineering degree at Northeastern University through the GI Bill. During his career at Draper Labs, he served as deputy associate director for the Apollo Project, designing guidance systems for the Apollo missions. During those years, Tom ran 12 Boston Marathons, training along the Charles River with his running group, the River Rats. After retirement, Tom was a gifted sculptor and writer. One of his sculptures, “Lil Max”, welcomes visitors at the Newton Free Library.

Tom was married for 45 years to the love of his life, Dorothy Hughes, who preceded him in death in 2003. In later years, he cherished the companionship of Eleanor Hickey until her death in 2018.

Tom is survived by his sisters, Catherine McIver, Sheila Fuller, Eileen Allen, and brother Edward Fitzgibbon, and predeceased by Nora (Fitzgibbon) Powers, John, Mary, Joan, and Clarence (Bud) Fitzgibbon. He was loved dearly by his five children and their spouses, Anne Fitzgibbon, Matthew and Cynthia Fitzgibbon, Sheila and Kevin Deely, Amy and Ray Porfiri, and Sean and Jeanne Fitzgibbon, and his grandchildren, Ryan, Christopher, Phoebe and Aidan Fitzgibbon, Max and Jacob Shusterman, Conor and Tyler Deely, Austin and Isaac Porfiri, and Madeline and Isabelle Fitzgibbon.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UMass Boston https://www.umb.edu/olli

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