Prince William Educator Rodger Fitzgerald Dies

Rodger Pierpont Fitzgerald, 83, of Woodbridge, Virginia, passed away due to a stroke, on June 21, 2013, at Sentara Medical Center of Virginia (Potomac Hospital) surrounded by his loved ones.

Rodger was born on October 29, 1929, on Buchanan Street in Richmond, Va., the sixth of eight children born of his parents, the Reverend David Jones Fitzgerald, Sr., a tailor and Baptist minister, and Gertrude Randall Harris Fitzgerald, a school teacher and homemaker. Rodger graduated from Armstrong High School in 1947.

He served his country honorably in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from 1950-954. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Math and Science from Virginia Union University in 1955 and a Masters degree in Guidance and Counseling from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1973.

He married the beautiful Fannie Beatrice Wilkinson on June 14, 1959, and was the father of two girls, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley and Kim Fitzgerald Lennon.

Rodger’s illustrious career as an educator spanned 35 years in the Prince William County school system. He taught math and science at the segregated Jennie Dean High School where he also served as a dormitory supervisor and then spent 29 years at Gar-Field High School as a math teacher and guidance counselor. He helped enrich the lives and careers of thousands of students with his positive attitude and “glass half full” approach to life. A photograph and plaque are displayed in the main hallway of Gar-Field High School in honor of Rodger’s years of service and many contributions.

Born in the month of the stock market crash at the onset of the great depression, Rodger was financially self-sufficient from the age of 10, funded his own college education, and provided a great living for his wife and family. As a dedicated humanitarian and community leader, he served as a board member and officer for a number of organizations including: Lions Club, Boys & Girls Club, Prince William Symphony Orchestra, Dale City Sanitary District Advisory Committee, and Northern Virginia Community College, and was also a member of Omega Si Phi Fraternity, Inc. He was a member of First Mount Zion Baptist Church and tutored students as part of the Academic Education Ministry.

Rodger loved all kinds of music including classical, standards, rhythm and blues, and gospel; and he instilled a joy of music in his daughters and grandchildren. A nature lover, gardener, birder and world-traveller, he met his life goal of visiting all seven continents after retiring in 1994.

Rodger is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 54 years, Fannie Wilkinson Fitzgerald, for whom an elementary school is named, Fannie W. Fitzgerald Elementary School; his oldest daughter, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley (Ron), a 1984 Olympic gold medalist and sports executive; and his youngest daughter, Kim Fitzgerald Lennon (Antonio), an instructional technologist at Fitzgerald Elementary; four grandchildren, Isaiah and Maya Mosley, and twins Antoinette and Olivia Lennon; one brother, two sisters, three sisters-in-law, and a host of nieces and nephews.

The viewing will be held at noon on Friday, June 28, 2013, immediately followed by his homegoing service at 1 p.m., at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries, and presided by Dr. Luke E. Torian, Pastor. The repast will be held at the church following the service. The internment will take place at Quantico Marine Base on July 3, 2013, at 1 p.m.

We will carry the memory of our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, teacher, counselor, and friend in our hearts forever.

-Submitted obituary