Obituary of George T Fitzsimons

George T Fitzsimons October 12, 1920 - September 10, 2005 George Thomas Fitzsimons, age 84 of Brookfield entered into eternal rest on Saturday, September 10, 2005 surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Shirley (Woodruff) Fitzsimons. George was born in Mt. Vernon, NY on October 12, 1920 a son of the late Thomas E. and Alice (Gleason) Fitzsimons. He was raised in Mt. Vernon and was a member of the 1938 graduating class of Mt. Vernon High School. During WWII he served his country in the Army and was stationed in the Pacific Theater. Upon his return to Mt. Vernon, he married his childhood sweetheart, Alice E. Halpine in 1946. He moved his young family to Brookfield in 1958 and worked in the engineering department of Kimberly Clark for over 30 years. He was devoted to Alice until her death in 1970. As a young boy, George won a "Freckled Face" contest which led to his discovery as a young model. He was cast as the Barefoot Boy in the movie "The Barefoot Boy" and was a member of the cast of "The Grand Hotel". He sat for Norman Rockwell for many of his paintings. As a serviceman, he was chosen by Mr. Rockwell for the painting entitled "O'er Land of the Free" which hangs in the entry way of the Disabled Veterans headquarters in Washington, D.C. George met Shirley through a mutual friend and they were married in 1979. Mr. Fitzsimons was an inventor and had a reputation for being able to repair anything that was broken. He served for many years on the board of the Central Cemetery Assoc. In later years, he discovered a new joy- cooking and baking. He always had to do for others and was a Good Samaritan to all he met. Mr. Fitzsimons left a legacy of good solid family values to all of his children. He was above all a dedicated family man and will be greatly missed. Besides his wife of 26 years, Mr. Fitzsimons is survived by 4 children: Thomas T. Fitzsimons of New Milford, Cathy A. Wilson and her husband Brian of Bridgewater, Mary Patricia Gaudioso and her husband Gary of Brookfield and Lauren M. Mucci and her husband Stephen, Sr. of Newtown; a brother: Albert Fitzsimons of Tacoma, WA and a sister: Sr. Alice Fitzsimons of the Mary the Queen Mother Convent in Yonkers, NY; 10 grandchildren: Michael, Kelly, Amy, Jay, Petra, Melissa, Stephen, Alice, Tim and Eamon; and 2 great granddaughters: Paige and Carli; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral Information The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6:00 until 8:00 at the Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Rd., Brookfield. The funeral service and burial will be private. Donations Information At the request of the family, donations in Mr. Fitzsimons' memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897-2523 or to the American Heart Assoc., 5 Brookside Dr., Wallingford, CT 06492.