Fairfield Warde boys basketball coach Walter Fitzgerald, a longtime figure in the Fairfield High School sports community, died Sunday night at the age of 61 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer.
"He was a good man, a good coach and always carried himself with class and dignity. He will be missed," said Warde Athletic Director Chris Manfredonia. "I'm happy I got to work with him and know him."
Fitzgerald was diagnosed disease in 2006, a short time after he took the job. He continued to coach the Mustangs and this past season took Warde to the state tournament, a first for him and the school.
Manfredonia said Fitzgerald never let the cancer take away from his coaching. "You never saw Walter show anything," he said. "He was fighting it tooth and nail, but he carried himself well outwardly."
He spent 23 years as an assistant and junior varsity basketball coach at Fairfield High School, working under Dave Schulz, now the athletic director at Fairfield Ludlowe. He retired in 2005 when Fairfield High School split into Warde and Ludlowe. He returned to coaching to take over for Jeff Seganos, who stepped down as Warde's head coach in 2006. Fitzgerald also excelled as a teacher in the Fairfield High School co-op system, working with students who were not able to be in the normal high school system.
"Walter was a teacher, he taught respect for the game and for each other," said Schulz, his close friend. "He went way beyond basketball when I worked with him. He was demanding about doing things the right way. He taught a lot of kids that and I think they carried it on throughout their lives."
Despite a 56-game losing streak to start his head-coaching career, Fitzgerald had a terrific reputation in the coaching community. His first win came in late 2009, defeating rival Ludlowe.
In 2009-10, despite failing health, he led the Mustangs to a 9-12 season and a berth in the Class L state championship, losing to Avon.
Schulz said he never saw any signs of Fitzgerald's battle with cancer during his final season. "He fought right through it. He never let it be an issue. The kids, they knew. He figured out how to get there and did all he could for those kids. I think he taught them a lot about life and the importance of giving it your all."
Three months ago he was moved to a hospice in Branford, where he spent his final days.
There will be services held for Fitzgerald at the Larson Funeral Home in Bridgeport. The wake is set for Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. and the funeral for Thursday, at St. Anthony's Church in Fairfield at 11 a.m.
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