James Edward Fitzgerald (bishop)
James Edward Fitzgerald (December 30, 1938 – September 11, 2003) was an American Roman Catholic cleric who served as the Bishop of Joliet in Joliet, Illinois.
James Edward Fitzgerald, Jr. was born on December 30, 1938, in
Marmion Military Academy in Aurora. He received a S.T.B. from Conception Seminary in Missouri and a M.Ed. in administration from DePaul University
in Chicago.
Following ordination to the priesthood by Bishop
Wilmington, St. Joseph Parish in Downers Grove
and St. Mary Parish in Mokena.
On January 11, 2002,
Diocese of Joliet. He was ordained a bishop on March 19, 2002, at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet by Bishop Joseph L. Imesch, with Bishop Roger Kaffer
and Bishop Daniel Ryan serving as the principal co-consecrators.
Ten months later, Fitzgerald was diagnosed with a degenerative
neurological disease
. The Pope accepted his resignation as auxiliary bishop on June 5, 2003;
Fitzgerald died in his home on September 11, 2003. The Mass of Christian burial was offered on September 16, 2003, at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, and interment took place in the mausoleum in Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, Illinois.[1]