Marion Beers Fitzgerald

Marion was born to Alice and Henry Beers on April 30, 1947. She died suddenly and unexpectedly from apparent heart failure on Saturday November 30, 2024 after doing one of her favorite things, sharing the evening with one of her four granddaughters at a volleyball game. Marion was born in Washington D.C. and lived most of her life in Arlington and Reston, Virginia. She graduated in 1965 from what was then called Washington and Lee High School and graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1969.

After graduation Marion taught school for a year in Prince William County before marrying Marine Lieutenant Rob Fitzgerald on March 14, 1970. Rob and Marion fell in love while at William and Mary and remained deeply in love for the next 54 years. After spending 3 months in Oklahoma while Rob attended artillery school, they were transferred to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC. Marion taught school in the Jacksonville public school system until they welcomed their first child, Erin. After Rob’s discharge from active duty they returned to Williamsburg where Rob attended law school and Marion served as a substitute teacher and full time Mom. After law school they moved to Reston, VA where they welcomed the births of two additional children, Lindsey and Brendan.

Marion loved being a Mom and enjoyed being an active part of her children’s lives. She raised their numerous pets: five bulldogs, one cat, one bird and numerous hamsters. Some of her many other acts in support of her kids included helping to manage their summer swim teams, playing piano during their elementary school concerts and co-chairing their all night high school graduation parties. Marion was thrilled that all of her children remained in Northern Virginia and they rarely let a day go by without a call or visit to Mom. Marion’s motherhood was a joyous lifetime pursuit and an ongoing mutual love affair between her and her children and grandchildren.
Marion was a gifted singer in high school, college and beyond. She sang the lead in the William and Mary Theater presentation of Yeoman of the Guard and also sang with the William and Mary choir. She spent years singing with the Reston Chorale and the renowned Choral Arts Society of Washington D.C. She also played the piano and led the Fitzgerald family and their guests every Christmas Eve in a Christmas carol sing-along that was a 50+ year family tradition.

Marion’s legacy to all who knew her is the devotion and love she gave and received from her children and granddaughters. Mom/Grammy/Mimi was a prominent fixture in their lives. There was no concert or athletic event of theirs that Marion ever missed. She was the granddaughters’ surrogate Mom whenever they needed babysitting, a ride somewhere or simply a hug. And she loved every minute of being with them.
Marion was tragically predeceased by her son Brendan.

Marion is survived by her loving husband Rob; her daughters Erin Smythers and Lindsey Grilliot and their husbands Mike Smythers and Gary Grilliot; her loving granddaughters Lauren, Megan and Brooke Smythers and Ava Grilliot; and her sisters Janet Bendann and Judy Trelogan.

Private graveside services will be held at a future date. A Celebration of Life will be held at The Lake House in Reston, 11450 Baron Cameron Ave, Reston, VA 20190 on Wednesday, December 18th from 2 PM to 5 PM. Marion was diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome but successfully battled four types of cancer over her lifetime. So in lieu of flowers a donation may be made to CCARE Alliance for Research and Education for Lynch Syndrome at https://fightlynch.org/