Patrick E. '"Burgy"' Fitzgerald

Turin- Patrick E. Fitzgerald, 68, affectionately known as "Burgy," husband of Kathleen, passed away at his residence on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, after a long illness. He was born in Lowville, on September 18, 1943, a son of Harry G. and Gladys Sullivan Fitzgerald. Pat grew up on Pearl St. in Port Leyden, graduating from Port Leyden High School with the Class of 1962. Later he began his long career as a paper maker, first at Burrows Paper Co. Lyonsdale, and then at Georgia Pacific and Lyons Falls Pulp & Paper Co, where he was employed for a total of 28 years at the time the company closed in 2002. On September 26, 1975, Patrick was united in marriage with Kathleen Norton, in Boonville. After that the couple lived in Lyons Falls, moving to Turin in 1980. "Burgy," was well known and loved for his Irish wit and great sense of humor. He took great pleasure and joy from being a part of a practical joke, or "high jinks!" He was the Founding Father of the "Traveling Flamingo Society," referring to his humorous practice of placing plastic Flamingo birds on front lawns of family members. Continuing with his sense of humor, Burgy also considered himself along with a group of friends to be one of the founding members of the "Lyonsdale Hook and Ladder Co." In addition to his humorous activities, Pat loved hunting, and was a member of Buck Tail Camp Hunting Club of Fowlerville and he enjoyed 4 wheeling. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and his children and grandchildren: Matthew Curtis Fitzgerald, and wife, Jessie, and their children, Jillian, Shea and Matilynn, Cocoa, Fla, son, Mark Patrick Fitzgerald and wife, Galadriel, and their children, Sarah, Derek and Cheyanne, Deerfield NY; daughter, Laura Michelle Knollman, and her son, Jamie Snyder, FT. Laramie, WY; son, Andrew John Knollman, and his children, Amanda and Andrew, Glens Falls, NY; brothers and sisters, Joanne and Irv Sattler, brothers, Tim and Melanie Fitzgerald, Mike and Barb Fitzgerald; sisters, Kathy Mathis, and Larry, all of Boonville, Sue Fitzgerald, and Mike Donnelly, Rome, and Sandy Fitzgerald, Port Leyden. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, his mother-in-law, Mildred M. Norton, Constableville, and his pet dog and companion, "Abby." Patrick was predeceased by his parents, by a brother, Larry John who died as an infant, his father-in-law, Curtis Norton, in 1996, and his brother-in-law, John Norton, in 1992. Visitation will be private at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville. Memorial contributions may be made to Turin Fire Department, or to the Lewis Co. Humane Society PO Box 682, Lowville, NY 13367. For an on-line message of sympathy, or to share a memory of Burgy, please go to www.trainorfuneralhome.com.