Hello all,
I just recieved news this morning that Bill had passed away yesterday.
http://hosting-24267.tributes.com/show/William-Fitzgerald-89877498
He will be missed by his many friends.
fishbum
Well gee…I was hoping for some better news when I opened the thread this morning. Instead I let a deep sigh. I’ll miss him. May he rest in peace.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Bill was a very special person, and he will be sorely missed.
Mr. Fitzgerald was one of you that felt like a friend although I never met him. I am very guilty of placing him and his generation on a pedestal, those who left their families, loved one and peaceful life behind and charged into the teeth of the most severe conflict history had ever seen. He was one of the many who snatched freedom from the teeth of a enemy who would have devoured it and imprisoned the world.
Prayers for him and his loved ones.
May God bless you Mr Fitzgerald.
As i look out my window this morning at the new fallen snow, i’m listening to my wife cooing to the border collie that visits from next door nearly every day to beg for snacks. The wife has let the dog in for a bit to warm up for a while. This dog is an outdoor dog and has a thick coat but the past couple of years we’ve noticed she stiffens up in the winter…more this year already. My wife is hand feeding her some of those little dogbone shaped biscuits from the store that we keep for her and as i look out the window again i see a patch of blue sky. I’m very happy to be alive.
Mr. Fitzgerald joined FAOL in 2001 and has been a big contributor all these years.
I’m so sorry to hear about William’s passing. He was always such a considerate person who consistently added value to the discussions and threads here on FAOL. I will truly miss him.
Jim Smith
Like others, this is not what I was expecting to see when I opened the thread. William was a gentleman in every sense of the word and a true American Hero. I will miss him.
REE
I will miss him…
Oh my, that really hurts. Bill was VERY active in teaching the Boy Scout Fly Fishing merit badge and before that taught hundreds of people how to tie flies. I wish there was some sort of honor roll here on FAOL to thank in some small way those who have contributed so much to our sport.
Rest in Peace Bill, God Be With You.
This thread is an unpleasant surprise. I am very sorry that Bill has left us. I shall miss him on the forum. I value what he posted and I never realized his age.
I fear that Castwell will recruit him to “keep an eye on me” so that I behave myself…
Ed
I will miss Bill an awful lot. I have set in many board meetings with him over the years I have been on the board of our club. I have been asked to take over the care of the clubs equipment and metrials which Bill took so very seriously over the many years he handled that. I fear I will not be able to fill his shoes. We are putting together a small fly box with flies we have tied over the years. I am including a fly tied by Jim Hatch that I received in a fly swap some years ago. Bill always thought Jim’s foam flies were unique and special. Bill was unique and special. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
I was Fortunate to meet Bill at several different shows A True Gentleman, He will be missed.
God Bless and Keep Him.
Having never had the pleasure of meeting him is ,I’m sure, my great misfortune. I loved his “matter of fact with nothing to lose” responses to some of our posts. I extend my sincerest condolences to his family and assure them, he left a mark. I can honestly say his passing leaves me with a hollow feeling. I wish I had an opportunity to meet him. May he rest in peace.
Mark
First, my prayers go out to all Bill’s loved ones & close friends.
Second, our entire fly fishing community has suffered a huge loss with Ol’ Bill’s passing. He was a true Ambassador for fly fishing & all the good things fly fishing gives. His legacy of sharing will never be lost.
God Bless and Keep you Bill!
Mike
I enjoyed Bill’s many posts. And he reminded me of the old timer who first took me under his wing to teach me the basics of fly fishing … and fly tying as well. I’ll miss him.
To the family of Mr. Fitzgerald and to all he has touched go my prayers. Though we have yet to meet we shared a bond as U.S. Army Aviators. I wonder if he knew that the U.S. Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama recently completed a display honoring him along with his fellow aviators that flew the civil air patrol missions in the south during the early stages of W.W.II
Mr. Fitzgerald related some about his experience there to me along with his experience flying the C-47 “Gooney Bird” during W.W.II He is now with his bothers in arms that had gone before him. Mr. Fitzgerald may you always have fair sky and favorable winds.
“High Flight” a poem by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr.
"High Flight
[LEFT]Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Sun ward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling
mirth of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred
things you have not dreamed of - wheeled
and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovr’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along,
and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.[/LEFT]
[LEFT]Up, up, the long, delirious, burning blue,
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand, and touched the face of God."[/LEFT]
Sprry to hear this, I will miss his imput here.
Rick