Michael Patrick FitzGerald, age 74, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026, at his home in Kilgore, Texas.

Mike was born on June 16, 1951, in Oakland, California. His parents, both World War II Navy veterans who met during the war, later settled in Corpus Christi, Texas, where Mike was raised alongside his brother Albert Vincent Fitzgerald III and his sister Bonnie Catherine Glenn. With easy access to water and wide-open land, he developed an early and lifelong love for the outdoors and the beauty of nature.

He graduated from McAllen High School and went on to attend Pan American University in McAllen, Texas, majoring in mathematics and minoring in physics. Answering a call to serve his country, Mike entered the United States Navy through Officer Candidate School. He served with distinction throughout his naval career, including aboard the submarine USS Daniel Webster. A gifted athlete, he also played football for the U.S. Navy’s Southeast Asia team.

In 1980, Mike settled in the Austin metropolitan area, which he proudly called home for the next 40 years. He attended graduate school at The University of Texas at Austin, graduating with honors, and found his professional calling with the U.S. Treasury Department while continuing to serve as a Naval Reservist.

During Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, Mike played a critical leadership role, overseeing operations at one of the world’s largest ports, so vast it was visible from space. His service exemplified professionalism, intelligence, and unwavering dedication. He retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain, reflecting a career defined by honor, responsibility, and quiet excellence.

Beyond his military and professional service, Mike lived a life rooted in curiosity, discipline, and adventure. He was an avid outdoorsman, a skilled marksman, and a voracious reader who never met a book he could not finish. A committed Boy Scout leader, he shared his love of challenge and exploration with younger generations. He fulfilled childhood dreams well into adulthood, including canoeing 100 miles in the Boundary Waters, at Canoe Base, hiking 110 miles at Philmont Scout Ranch in northeastern New Mexico, and hiking the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim in three days, achievements he held with quiet pride.

Mike was also an advanced scuba diver, achieving the Divemaster distinction. He loved the water and helped others discover a passion for scuba by leading training courses, including underwater navigation. His lifelong passion for Texas Longhorn football was rivaled only by his love, loyalty, and devotion to his wife of 32 years.

After retiring from both the Navy and the Treasury Department, Mike settled in Kilgore, Texas, where he was an active member of his church and served as a tour guide at the East Texas Oil Museum. Mike and his wife, Amy, enjoyed traveling together, including cruising the Rhine and Danube Rivers, visiting Ireland, and making multiple trips to Bavaria, Germany.

Mike is survived by his wife, Amy Louise FitzGerald; his daughters, Audrey Kathleen Roberson and Erin Colleen Rosen; his son, Michael Patrick Fitzgerald Jr.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He will be remembered for his quick wit, integrity, and uncompromising approach to life. He will be deeply missed.

A memorial service to honor Mike's life will be held at First Baptist Church of Kilgore on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 10:30 am.