(This obituary was written by Ryan Richards and ran in the July 17, 2008 edition of the Wayne Suburban Paper.)

Robert A. Fitzgerald was a man of many talents in Radnor Township: a commissioner, a high-school principal, chairman of the board of the Main Line Branch of the American Red Cross and a board member of many civic organizations.

But Fitzgerald will no doubt be remembered for his compassion for children as a guidance counselor. A 1980s newspaper article in The Suburban said Fitzgerald "gained the respect and admiration of countless students, parents and teachers by helping to balance kids' troubles with their talents — giving each an opportunity to excel academically while dealing with a changing outside world."

Fitzgerald, a former Wayne and Rosemont resident living in West Chester, passed away at age 77 on Sunday.

Known simply as "Fitz" to his students, he started his career in education in 1956 as a teacher at Conestoga High School, where he also coached wrestling and football. In September 1960 he joined the Radnor School District as a guidance counselor. In 1963 he became assistant principal at Radnor Junior High School, which is today the middle school.

In 1966 he became Radnor High School's director of guidance and student affairs, a position he would hold until 1980. That year he became the school's principal at the request of the school board. According to the Suburban article he agreed to take the job only if he were allowed to continue counseling students on his own.

Skip Shoemaker retired from Radnor High School as a guidance counselor this year. He started out in 1973, however, as a health and physical-education teacher, but was encouraged in the mid-1980s by Fitzgerald to join the guidance staff.

"He actually created a spot in guidance for me," said Shoemaker.

Shoemaker said his colleague, whose sons he coached in wrestling, was very student-oriented.

"He cared deeply about the students," he said. "He was that way when he was a principal also."

Barbara Bazillo was among those students who benefited from Fitzgerald's guidance. Now living in Chester Springs, she was a senior at Radnor High School in 1974 and unsure what path to follow after graduation.

"He was a great influence in helping me to decide to go to college," said Bazillo, who would obtain a business degree from the University of Denver. "I'm just very thankful for his wise words of advice."

Jim Pierce, a Wayne-based attorney and Tredyffrin resident, said Fitzgerald was his counselor at both Radnor Junior and Senior high schools. He credits the counselor, whom he calls a "financial-aid genius," with helping him get a full scholarship to Villanova University.

"He was definitely one of my mentors," said Pierce.

Pierce and other high-school and college students were part of Fitzgerald's campaign committee when he ran for commissioner in the Fourth Ward in the late 1960s. He said Fitzgerald defeated the endorsed Republican candidate in the primary and claimed victory in the general election. The experience working with Fitzgerald influenced Pierce's own commitment to public service. He served as the Sixth Ward Radnor Township commissioner from 1993 to 2003.

Fitzgerald's dedication to serving civic organizations included being president of the board of directors of the Radnor Memorial Library, president of the board of directors of the Main Line Parents Council, chairman of the board of the Main Line Branch of the American Red Cross, member of the board of directors of the Suburban Swimming League, charter member and member of the board of directors of the Radnor High School Scholarship Fund and member of the boards of directors of the Wayne Senior Center and Radnor ABC House.

After retirement from the school district in 1987, he counseled students on college and career planning as an independent educational consultant.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Davey Fitzgerald; children Robert B., Shawn Ridgway, Megan Romano, Timothy D. and J. Gregory; 13 grandchildren; and his brother, John Fitzgerald.

A Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, July 17th at St. Katharine of Siena Church in Wayne. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia Society of America, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter, 1080 N. Delaware Ave., Philadelphia PA 19125, or to St. Katharine of Siena Church.