Jon M. Fitzgerald, aged 81, a long-time resident of Albion, passed away unexpectedly November 17, 2022. He was born and raised in Port Huron. After teaching at the University of Maryland, he came to Albion College as an assistant professor of speech communications. In 1974, he became executive director of what is now the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association, where he served the Michigan and national speech communities for more than 30 years. He also served as chairman of the Michigan Youth Arts Festival.

Outside of work, he was an avid sports fan, particularly of football, and enjoyed playing bridge. But most important to him were his family and his faith. He and his wife, Nancy, attended Church of the Servant in Grand Rapids, and especially enjoyed monthly fellowship with friends from the church.

Fitzgerald was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lois (Whitehead) Fitzgerald, his son Joseph, and his grandson Kyle. He leaves his loving wife of 16 years, Nancy, son Michael (Lark) of Framingham, Mass., daughter Andrea of Albion, daughter-in-law Yvette Fitzgerald of Hawthorne, Fla., stepchildren Rachel Bordewyk, Katherine Oland, and David Bordewyk, all of Grand Rapids, 13 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

There will be a viewing on Sunday November 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Zaagman Memorial Chapel funeral home, 2800 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids. The funeral will be Monday November 28 at 1 p.m. at Church of the Servant, 3835 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests people make donations in his name to World Renew Disaster Response Services, 8970 Byron Commerce Drive SW, Byron Center, MI 49315 or to the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association, 30238 Spring River Dr., Southfield, MI 48076.