James W. Fitzgerald, Sr. of New London, CT, died on January 16, 2006 at Camelot Nursing Center in New London after a long battle with cancer.
He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on December 2, 1917, the son of the late James C. and Edwina Fitzgerald.
He is survived by his wife, Mary (Olfson) Fitzgerald, two sons James Fitzgerald II of New London and CAPT Michael Fitzgerald, USN, & his wife Jerilynn of Battle Ground, WA; two daughters, Mary K.Fitzgerald-Spalding & her husband, Michael of Bowie MD and Margaret E. Fitzgerald & her husband, Guido Boger of Bad Lippspringe, Germany; six grandchildren: Hellenmae Bernadette Fitzgerald of Antioch, CA, Suzanne Levesque of Bad Lippspringe, Germany, Andrew Spalding of Bowie, MD, John, Meagan & William Fitzgerald of Battle Ground, WA; one brother, Dr. Edwin Fitzgerald & his wife Carolyn, of Monkton, MD, one sister, Charlotte Mueller & her husband Otto, of State College, PA, Brothers-in-law James Olfson & his wife Donna Mae of Edgewater, MD, John Olfson & his wife Mary of Oneida, WI, plus numerous nieces & nephews.
Mr. Fitzgerald, an Engineering-Physicist by training (University of Wisconsin, BS/EE Undergraduate; graduate work-Physics) at various times he has been: a Design Engineer at Babcock & Wilcox; a Research Physicist at B.F. Goodrich Company, where he worked at the outbreak of WW II on self-sealing fuel tanks for aircraft, then as the Head of the Sound Propagation Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory where he invented and developed the rubber sonar dome, still used on Naval surface ship sonars; Research Supervisor at the Engineering Research Associates; Head of the Transducer Branch at the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory; Director of the Electromechanical Division of Atlantic Research Corporation; Research Physics Instructor at the University of Wisconsin; President, Founder and Chief Scientist of Chesapeake Instrument Corporation (now part of Lockheed Martin Corporation) where he invented and instituted the development of the passive towed-array sonars. Towed-array sonars were the U.S. Navy's principal ASW system that contained the Soviet submarine threat during the Cold War.
In the 1960's, in a previously classified Central Intelligence Agency program, Fitzgerald pioneered the use of dolphins for such systems as: mine-hunting; anti-swimmer systems; ship limpet-mine placement; object recovery; etc.: President, Founder and Chief Scientist of Fitzgerald Laboratories; Principal Associate of Woodmont Associates, Inc.; Vice-President of NP Industries; Principal Scientist at BK Dynamics; Principal Scientist at Planning Systems, Inc.; a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, and currently, was Founder, President and Chief Engineer at the Kildare Corporation which he and his wife, Mary, began in New London in 1986 to conduct re search and development in the fields of: (1) Sonar Transducers & Sonar Systems; (2) Complex Dynamic Properties of Materials; (3) Acoustic Instrumentation; (4) Ultrasonic Processing & Sono-Chemistry; and (5) Marine Mammal & Fish Bio-Acoustics. Among his many important contributions to sonar technology are; rubber sonar domes; synthetic rubber sonar stocks; bilaminate sonar transducers; acceleration-canceling hydrophones; corner reflector projectors; conical reflector hydrophone; numerous test and calibration transducers; including the LC-series of hydrophones; and the "lollypop" sonobuoy hydrophone.
He has been active in these fields for many years and is the holder of many patents. He also became a scuba diver instructor and with his family enjoyed diving in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.
Along with family and friends, he enjoyed sailing and the opera. His spontaneous punning was legendary. His presence will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic, is assisting the family with private cremation services. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Camelot Nursing Home, 89 Viets Street, New London CT 06320, the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital 50 Faire Harbour Place, New London CT 06320, or American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham MA 01701.
He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on December 2, 1917, the son of the late James C. and Edwina Fitzgerald.
He is survived by his wife, Mary (Olfson) Fitzgerald, two sons James Fitzgerald II of New London and CAPT Michael Fitzgerald, USN, & his wife Jerilynn of Battle Ground, WA; two daughters, Mary K.Fitzgerald-Spalding & her husband, Michael of Bowie MD and Margaret E. Fitzgerald & her husband, Guido Boger of Bad Lippspringe, Germany; six grandchildren: Hellenmae Bernadette Fitzgerald of Antioch, CA, Suzanne Levesque of Bad Lippspringe, Germany, Andrew Spalding of Bowie, MD, John, Meagan & William Fitzgerald of Battle Ground, WA; one brother, Dr. Edwin Fitzgerald & his wife Carolyn, of Monkton, MD, one sister, Charlotte Mueller & her husband Otto, of State College, PA, Brothers-in-law James Olfson & his wife Donna Mae of Edgewater, MD, John Olfson & his wife Mary of Oneida, WI, plus numerous nieces & nephews.
Mr. Fitzgerald, an Engineering-Physicist by training (University of Wisconsin, BS/EE Undergraduate; graduate work-Physics) at various times he has been: a Design Engineer at Babcock & Wilcox; a Research Physicist at B.F. Goodrich Company, where he worked at the outbreak of WW II on self-sealing fuel tanks for aircraft, then as the Head of the Sound Propagation Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory where he invented and developed the rubber sonar dome, still used on Naval surface ship sonars; Research Supervisor at the Engineering Research Associates; Head of the Transducer Branch at the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory; Director of the Electromechanical Division of Atlantic Research Corporation; Research Physics Instructor at the University of Wisconsin; President, Founder and Chief Scientist of Chesapeake Instrument Corporation (now part of Lockheed Martin Corporation) where he invented and instituted the development of the passive towed-array sonars. Towed-array sonars were the U.S. Navy's principal ASW system that contained the Soviet submarine threat during the Cold War.
In the 1960's, in a previously classified Central Intelligence Agency program, Fitzgerald pioneered the use of dolphins for such systems as: mine-hunting; anti-swimmer systems; ship limpet-mine placement; object recovery; etc.: President, Founder and Chief Scientist of Fitzgerald Laboratories; Principal Associate of Woodmont Associates, Inc.; Vice-President of NP Industries; Principal Scientist at BK Dynamics; Principal Scientist at Planning Systems, Inc.; a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, and currently, was Founder, President and Chief Engineer at the Kildare Corporation which he and his wife, Mary, began in New London in 1986 to conduct re search and development in the fields of: (1) Sonar Transducers & Sonar Systems; (2) Complex Dynamic Properties of Materials; (3) Acoustic Instrumentation; (4) Ultrasonic Processing & Sono-Chemistry; and (5) Marine Mammal & Fish Bio-Acoustics. Among his many important contributions to sonar technology are; rubber sonar domes; synthetic rubber sonar stocks; bilaminate sonar transducers; acceleration-canceling hydrophones; corner reflector projectors; conical reflector hydrophone; numerous test and calibration transducers; including the LC-series of hydrophones; and the "lollypop" sonobuoy hydrophone.
He has been active in these fields for many years and is the holder of many patents. He also became a scuba diver instructor and with his family enjoyed diving in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.
Along with family and friends, he enjoyed sailing and the opera. His spontaneous punning was legendary. His presence will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic, is assisting the family with private cremation services. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Camelot Nursing Home, 89 Viets Street, New London CT 06320, the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital 50 Faire Harbour Place, New London CT 06320, or American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham MA 01701.
James W. Fitzgerald, Sr. of New London, CT, died on January 16, 2006 at Camelot Nursing Center in New London after a long battle with cancer.
He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on December 2, 1917, the son of the late James C. and Edwina Fitzgerald.
He is survived by his wife, Mary (Olfson) Fitzgerald, two sons James Fitzgerald II of New London and CAPT Michael Fitzgerald, USN, & his wife Jerilynn of Battle Ground, WA; two daughters, Mary K.Fitzgerald-Spalding & her husband, Michael of Bowie MD and Margaret E. Fitzgerald & her husband, Guido Boger of Bad Lippspringe, Germany; six grandchildren: Hellenmae Bernadette Fitzgerald of Antioch, CA, Suzanne Levesque of Bad Lippspringe, Germany, Andrew Spalding of Bowie, MD, John, Meagan & William Fitzgerald of Battle Ground, WA; one brother, Dr. Edwin Fitzgerald & his wife Carolyn, of Monkton, MD, one sister, Charlotte Mueller & her husband Otto, of State College, PA, Brothers-in-law James Olfson & his wife Donna Mae of Edgewater, MD, John Olfson & his wife Mary of Oneida, WI, plus numerous nieces & nephews.
Mr. Fitzgerald, an Engineering-Physicist by training (University of Wisconsin, BS/EE Undergraduate; graduate work-Physics) at various times he has been: a Design Engineer at Babcock & Wilcox; a Research Physicist at B.F. Goodrich Company, where he worked at the outbreak of WW II on self-sealing fuel tanks for aircraft, then as the Head of the Sound Propagation Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory where he invented and developed the rubber sonar dome, still used on Naval surface ship sonars; Research Supervisor at the Engineering Research Associates; Head of the Transducer Branch at the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory; Director of the Electromechanical Division of Atlantic Research Corporation; Research Physics Instructor at the University of Wisconsin; President, Founder and Chief Scientist of Chesapeake Instrument Corporation (now part of Lockheed Martin Corporation) where he invented and instituted the development of the passive towed-array sonars. Towed-array sonars were the U.S. Navy's principal ASW system that contained the Soviet submarine threat during the Cold War.
In the 1960's, in a previously classified Central Intelligence Agency program, Fitzgerald pioneered the use of dolphins for such systems as: mine-hunting; anti-swimmer systems; ship limpet-mine placement; object recovery; etc.: President, Founder and Chief Scientist of Fitzgerald Laboratories; Principal Associate of Woodmont Associates, Inc.; Vice-President of NP Industries; Principal Scientist at BK Dynamics; Principal Scientist at Planning Systems, Inc.; a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, and currently, was Founder, President and Chief Engineer at the Kildare Corporation which he and his wife, Mary, began in New London in 1986 to conduct re search and development in the fields of: (1) Sonar Transducers & Sonar Systems; (2) Complex Dynamic Properties of Materials; (3) Acoustic Instrumentation; (4) Ultrasonic Processing & Sono-Chemistry; and (5) Marine Mammal & Fish Bio-Acoustics. Among his many important contributions to sonar technology are; rubber sonar domes; synthetic rubber sonar stocks; bilaminate sonar transducers; acceleration-canceling hydrophones; corner reflector projectors; conical reflector hydrophone; numerous test and calibration transducers; including the LC-series of hydrophones; and the "lollypop" sonobuoy hydrophone.
He has been active in these fields for many years and is the holder of many patents. He also became a scuba diver instructor and with his family enjoyed diving in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.
Along with family and friends, he enjoyed sailing and the opera. His spontaneous punning was legendary. His presence will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic, is assisting the family with private cremation services. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Camelot Nursing Home, 89 Viets Street, New London CT 06320, the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital 50 Faire Harbour Place, New London CT 06320, or American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham MA 01701.
He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on December 2, 1917, the son of the late James C. and Edwina Fitzgerald.
He is survived by his wife, Mary (Olfson) Fitzgerald, two sons James Fitzgerald II of New London and CAPT Michael Fitzgerald, USN, & his wife Jerilynn of Battle Ground, WA; two daughters, Mary K.Fitzgerald-Spalding & her husband, Michael of Bowie MD and Margaret E. Fitzgerald & her husband, Guido Boger of Bad Lippspringe, Germany; six grandchildren: Hellenmae Bernadette Fitzgerald of Antioch, CA, Suzanne Levesque of Bad Lippspringe, Germany, Andrew Spalding of Bowie, MD, John, Meagan & William Fitzgerald of Battle Ground, WA; one brother, Dr. Edwin Fitzgerald & his wife Carolyn, of Monkton, MD, one sister, Charlotte Mueller & her husband Otto, of State College, PA, Brothers-in-law James Olfson & his wife Donna Mae of Edgewater, MD, John Olfson & his wife Mary of Oneida, WI, plus numerous nieces & nephews.
Mr. Fitzgerald, an Engineering-Physicist by training (University of Wisconsin, BS/EE Undergraduate; graduate work-Physics) at various times he has been: a Design Engineer at Babcock & Wilcox; a Research Physicist at B.F. Goodrich Company, where he worked at the outbreak of WW II on self-sealing fuel tanks for aircraft, then as the Head of the Sound Propagation Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory where he invented and developed the rubber sonar dome, still used on Naval surface ship sonars; Research Supervisor at the Engineering Research Associates; Head of the Transducer Branch at the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory; Director of the Electromechanical Division of Atlantic Research Corporation; Research Physics Instructor at the University of Wisconsin; President, Founder and Chief Scientist of Chesapeake Instrument Corporation (now part of Lockheed Martin Corporation) where he invented and instituted the development of the passive towed-array sonars. Towed-array sonars were the U.S. Navy's principal ASW system that contained the Soviet submarine threat during the Cold War.
In the 1960's, in a previously classified Central Intelligence Agency program, Fitzgerald pioneered the use of dolphins for such systems as: mine-hunting; anti-swimmer systems; ship limpet-mine placement; object recovery; etc.: President, Founder and Chief Scientist of Fitzgerald Laboratories; Principal Associate of Woodmont Associates, Inc.; Vice-President of NP Industries; Principal Scientist at BK Dynamics; Principal Scientist at Planning Systems, Inc.; a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, and currently, was Founder, President and Chief Engineer at the Kildare Corporation which he and his wife, Mary, began in New London in 1986 to conduct re search and development in the fields of: (1) Sonar Transducers & Sonar Systems; (2) Complex Dynamic Properties of Materials; (3) Acoustic Instrumentation; (4) Ultrasonic Processing & Sono-Chemistry; and (5) Marine Mammal & Fish Bio-Acoustics. Among his many important contributions to sonar technology are; rubber sonar domes; synthetic rubber sonar stocks; bilaminate sonar transducers; acceleration-canceling hydrophones; corner reflector projectors; conical reflector hydrophone; numerous test and calibration transducers; including the LC-series of hydrophones; and the "lollypop" sonobuoy hydrophone.
He has been active in these fields for many years and is the holder of many patents. He also became a scuba diver instructor and with his family enjoyed diving in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.
Along with family and friends, he enjoyed sailing and the opera. His spontaneous punning was legendary. His presence will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic, is assisting the family with private cremation services. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Camelot Nursing Home, 89 Viets Street, New London CT 06320, the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital 50 Faire Harbour Place, New London CT 06320, or American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham MA 01701.
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