Joseph L. Fitzgibbon, 97, died on February 25, 2022. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Mary Gertrude (Devine) Fitzgibbon who died in August 2020. Joe was born in Easton, Pennsylvania on November 4, 1924 to Joseph and Mary Ellen (Malley) Fitzgibbon.  He attended Easton Catholic High School, graduating in 1942. He intended to continue his education at Lafayette College, focusing on Mechanical Engineering but he left Lafayette to join the United States Navy on his 18^th birthday. He served in the Southwest Pacific theatre during World War II as an optical technician, specializing in navigation instruments and periscopes. His expertise in optical engineering continued into the 1950s, attending Advanced Optical School in Washington, DC.  Following this advanced training he was based at the Kollmorgen Optical Corporation in Northampton, Massaschusetts; charged with bringing fleet knowledge to the manufacture of periscopes. There he met Mary Devine. They were married in 1956. Joe continued his naval career with postings to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; New London, Connecticut; San Diego, California; Little Creek, Virginia; and Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island. During that time, he also advanced his engineering and operations expertise with assignments on naval repair ships and as Engineering Officer on the Floating Drydock ARD-16 in Rhode Island. With 25 years of service, he retired from the Navy in 1967, having risen from Apprentice Seaman to Chief Warrant Officer and Executive Officer on the ARD-16.

He and Mary returned to Mary’s hometown of Hadley, Massachusetts to raise their family. His retirement did not last long as he was immediately hired by Kollmorgen Corporation, in a civilian capacity, to continue his work on periscopes and telescopes. He left Kollmorgen to take on the role of Facilities Manager of Millers Falls Tool Company. In the mid 70’s Joe took on a new challenge at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and served as Chief Operations Engineer until his retirement in 1991.

Joe was active in the Hadley community, coaching the Giants (his sons’ baseball team), scouting, and serving on the board of the Housing Authority, Conservation Commission and several other town committees. He was also a long-time member of the Amherst Council of the Knights of Columbus.

Joe leaves his sons Paul (Karen Sobasko) and James (Connie DeSantis) and daughters Maryellen (Catherine Cezeaux) and Martha (Kevin Hill). His son Joseph and daughter Honora predeceased him. He was a devoted grandfather to Joseph Fitzgibbon (Angela), Michael Fitzgibbon (Kim), Mary-Kate Fitzgibbon Murray (Scott), Kevin and Emily Hill, and great grandfather to Cole, Penelope, and River. He was also a respected uncle to his many nieces and nephews.

Joe enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading military history, traveling to Florida, driving tractors during tobacco season and smoking cigars. His greatest loves were his beloved wife Mary, his naval career and deep-sea fishing with his fishing friends including Dick Kicza.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, March 2^nd from 4:00-7:00 at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA. A liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 3^rd at 10:00 at the Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley with burial following at the St. Brigid’s Cemetery in Hadley. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com