Robert George Fitzgerald
October 13, 1947 ~ September 3, 2018
Robert G. Fitzgerald was born October 13, 1947 in Charles City, Iowa where his father, the late Robert L. Fitzgerald, Jr. had found a management job in a chicken medicine factory after leaving the Navy at the end of WWII. R.L. Fitzgerald was a reserve Navy officer and was recalled for service in the Korean War, so the family moved from Minneapolis to Staten Island, NY, to Bremerton, WA and the San Diego area, all within one year. Robert G. started school in the very overcrowded public schools of Imperial Beach, CA, just north of the Mexican border. Later, the family moved to the LA area and then, for two years, to Sasebo, Japan. Next came the Chicago area. Robert G. started high school in Libertyville, Ill, then attended a high school in suburban Maryland and finally graduated from the DoD Dependent School north of London, England. A National Merit semi-finalist, Robert G. then entered the University of Chicago.
After dropping out of the University of Chicago, Robert G. dropped in on the graduate student apartment of his sister Susan F. Chipman and her husband Eric in Cambridge, MA. Susan suggested that Robert look for a job involving computers. He found a job as a night computer operator for a big Boston bank. That was the beginning of his career in computing. Without any formal training, he became a systems programmer. Many years later, he and two co-workers at the Kiplinger Corporation decided to found a small company, Softworks, to produce and sell systems software for large IBM computers. Their goal was to improve upon the performance of IBM’s own systems software which they knew well. The company succeeded, although not without struggles in the early years. After 15 years, the company had to be sold so that the oldest of the partners, who had already retired from the military, could really retire. Robert also retired early at that time, in 1999.
For a number of years while working at the Kiplinger Corporation and during the early years of the company, Robert G. lived in his parents’ townhouse in Wolftrappe Square in Vienna, VA. When the commute to the Softworks location in Maryland became too difficult, he purchased a townhouse in Alexandria, VA, near the bridge. When he retired, he suddenly noticed that his townhouse had no view, so he purchased a high rise condo with a spectacular view in the first of the Carlyle Towers buildings in Alexandria.
In retirement, he often solved the computer problems of his fellow condo residents and family members, without charge. He devoted considerable time to meeting the needs of his mother, the late Margaret S. Fitzgerald, who had moved from Vienna, VA to the Greenspring retirement community. Unfortunately he also fell under the influence of alternative medicine gurus who led him to scorn conventional medicine. After several years of decline largely resulting from this unwise choice, he died September 3, 2018 in the ICU of BridgePoint Rehabilitation Hospital.
Robert is survived by his sister Susan F. Chipman of Boulder, CO and his cousin Nancy Montague of Arlington, VA as well as several other cousins distributed across the U.S.
Condolences in remembrance of Robert G. Fitzgerald can be left on the website of the Money & King Funeral Home. Services private.
After dropping out of the University of Chicago, Robert G. dropped in on the graduate student apartment of his sister Susan F. Chipman and her husband Eric in Cambridge, MA. Susan suggested that Robert look for a job involving computers. He found a job as a night computer operator for a big Boston bank. That was the beginning of his career in computing. Without any formal training, he became a systems programmer. Many years later, he and two co-workers at the Kiplinger Corporation decided to found a small company, Softworks, to produce and sell systems software for large IBM computers. Their goal was to improve upon the performance of IBM’s own systems software which they knew well. The company succeeded, although not without struggles in the early years. After 15 years, the company had to be sold so that the oldest of the partners, who had already retired from the military, could really retire. Robert also retired early at that time, in 1999.
For a number of years while working at the Kiplinger Corporation and during the early years of the company, Robert G. lived in his parents’ townhouse in Wolftrappe Square in Vienna, VA. When the commute to the Softworks location in Maryland became too difficult, he purchased a townhouse in Alexandria, VA, near the bridge. When he retired, he suddenly noticed that his townhouse had no view, so he purchased a high rise condo with a spectacular view in the first of the Carlyle Towers buildings in Alexandria.
In retirement, he often solved the computer problems of his fellow condo residents and family members, without charge. He devoted considerable time to meeting the needs of his mother, the late Margaret S. Fitzgerald, who had moved from Vienna, VA to the Greenspring retirement community. Unfortunately he also fell under the influence of alternative medicine gurus who led him to scorn conventional medicine. After several years of decline largely resulting from this unwise choice, he died September 3, 2018 in the ICU of BridgePoint Rehabilitation Hospital.
Robert is survived by his sister Susan F. Chipman of Boulder, CO and his cousin Nancy Montague of Arlington, VA as well as several other cousins distributed across the U.S.
Condolences in remembrance of Robert G. Fitzgerald can be left on the website of the Money & King Funeral Home. Services private.
Rob had an international childhood having lived in US, Asia and Europe.
Rob enjoyed photography, hiking and mountaineering. He hiked the Pacific Coast Trail along with many Colorado high peaks.
He was an avid reader, especially of SciFi. He was very generous in sharing his collection with me.
One time we hiked to 6 hours along the Potomac in heat excess of 100 degrees. He was always a wonderful host & tour guide.
I will miss him a lot.
My deepest Sympathy to Fitz’s family. I worked with Fitz for several years at Softworks. He had a brilliant mind and was one of the most intelligent people I have ever met.
My thoughts and prayers are with Fitz’s family at this time. I worked with him at Softworks where he and his partners gave employees a chance to learn, grow and make signifiant contributions to Washington’s technology boom in the late 80’s and 1990’s. His support will always be appreciated.
Marilyn and David offer our deep sympathy to Susan and Fitz’s family. We lived in the same condo building with him for many years. He was always very kind and always assisted residents with computer issues.
First time I met cousin Robbie, a curious and athletic boy
Rob loved photography
my 1974 visit
1977 ish with his Dad
visiting with his mother
with his brother-in-law in London
with his mom & dad in Vienna VA
early 1970s
visiting Longwood Gardens
visiting Rob’s mom
Sending my thoughts and prayers to Bob’s family. I am sorry to hear of his death. We worked together for many years, starting back in the 70’s at Kiplingers. I was lucky to work with him on several projects in the early days of Softworks. He taught me, and many others on the Softworks team, a lot about systems and programming. He was a generous and kind man.
I was sadden to read of the passing of Bob. My deep sympathy to his sister and other family members. It was very interesting to read of Bob’s early years of which I never knew.
I worked at Kiplinger as a computer programmer while Bob was also at Kiplinger. Bob was always very quiet, but if you ever needed his help or had a question for him, he was always willing to help. Bob was very knowledgeable in the computer area and if he did not know the answer to your question he would research and find the answer.
Bob was usually the guy in the blue oxford shirt.
I also worked with the two other individuals with whom Bob joined to start Softworks. That was a great threesome with Bob and Bill the tech experts and John being the up front man.
May Bob rest in peace for the world has lost a wonderful person.