Mr. Albert IV

Albert J. Fitzgerald IV, 86 of Havertown, PA passed away on April 2, 2016.



Born in Philadelphia to the late Albert James, III and Doris Rachel (nee Keiser) Fitzgerald, Albert was born and raised in the Fairmount Section of Philadelphia. Albert was known as "Fitz" or "Buddy" to his many friends.



He was the beloved husband of Marie (nee Devlin), and was predeceased by his wives Margareta Bodnar, and Eleanor (nee Curcio) Fitzgerald. Albert was Loving Father to and is survived by his children Albert J Fitzgerald V, Thomas M. (Lee Ann) Fitzgerald, Michael (Joanne) Fitzgerald, Mark C. (Patrizia) Fitzgerald, and Regina T. (David) La Bricciosa, his brother Richard (Kathleen) Fitzgerald and his step-daughter Maureen Patricia Whitmore, 19 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was also predeceased by his sister Doris and step-child Francis J. Mornell.



Albert attended Central High but shortly made a move to Ben Franklin High where he played football in 1945 and met his lifetime friend Ernie Ernst, who later became the head of photography at NFL films. Ernie was best known as the man who captured the 'immaculate reception' on film. The young Ernst was without a home as adolescent and Albert and family took him in - they remained close until separated by death.



In 1951 Fitzgerald entered the Marine Corps where he served for two years in supply chain management and discovered panache for numbers, inventory and fixing problems. After being honorably discharged he took a position at Crisconi Oldsmobile working his way up to Parts Department Manager. Albert would stay with Crisconi for 21 years. He made many friends in center city Philadelphia and was quite the man about town during the period. An avid dancer, he won many dance contests which were popular at the time.



Albert's social nature led him to leave in 1974 and join the Truck Parts and Equipment Company located at 17th and Fairmount in Philadelphia. A natural salesman, Fitzgerald was always the top producer leveraging his experience and contacts during his parts department days. Many a coworker gave Albert props for his sales skills and he would lead the Sales Department there until his retirement at age 69.



Fitzgerald stayed retired for 3 days. Not content to sit at home he asked for and received a position with Acero Precision, a Newtown Square manufacturer of precision machined components for the medical device, oil and gas and motor racing industries started by his son Michael while he was attending Drexel University. Albert managed the Shipping and Receiving department there and was right back to his Marine Corps 'roots' of supply chain management and solving problems. In his final year with the company at age 84 Acero manufactured products were present on the racing cars that won the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the Nascar World 600 - all in one day. Successfully completing a 3rd career, father and son worked side by side for 17 years.



Albert loved to play cards throughout his life and was a top pinochle player in his club. In his final days he could be found many afternoons in West Philadelphia at the IAC playing with some of his old friends from the neighborhood. A man who loved to work with others he will be sorely missed.



Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing 6:00-9:00 PM Friday, April 8, 2016 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 3300 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073, 610-353-6300 and 9:30-10:20AM Saturday at Sacred Heart Church, Manoa & Shelbourne Rds., Havertown, PA 19083, followed by his Funeral Mass 10:30AM. Interment SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield, PA 19064.



Contributions in Albert's memory, to The American Lung Association, 527 Plymouth Road, Suite 403, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.