Dr. Edmond Fitzgerald, Jr. (aka Ted by his mother; Dr. Fitz by his colleagues) served the Port Huron area as an internal medicine physician and now he spends his time as a Volunteer Physician with VNA & Blue Water Hospice. Within those years, there was laughter, loss, and lessons along the way.

Dr. Fitz followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a physician. The senior Fitzgerald had a practice in Detroit when he was called to serve in WWII as Chief Medical Officer on troop transports. Prior to the War, the family spent summers in the Blue Water Area; an area Edmond Sr. fell in love with because his father-in-law, William B. Thompson, a former Detroit Mayor, spent his summers here. Dr. Fitzgerald moved the family in 1944 and practiced here until his death in 1952.

Dr. Fitz is the eldest of three children. When his father left for the war, he and his brother, Bob, were sent to Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. His sister, Peggy, stayed at home with his mom. Dr. Fitz says the boarding school was tough, students had to participate in activities, there was no free time. But looking back, he says it was a good thing, many lessons were learned, and it prepared him for the future.

After high school, he attended University of Notre Dame, graduating Pre-Med in 1951. His graduation from St. Louis University Medical School was in 1955; followed by a year-long internship at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Detroit. At this time, in the United States, young men had to participate in the military – his service was the U.S. Army Medical Corp. He was deferred until medical school and internship were completed.

On to the military… serving from 1956-58. He started his service at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Shortly after his father’s death, Dr. Fitz was transferred to Fort Wayne in Detroit, as the physician in charge of the Army facility. He saw troops in the morning and dependents in the afternoon. Since the facility wasn’t a hospital, if one was needed, the patient was sent to Windmill Pointe Hospital in Grosse Pointe. “From a medical or physician standpoint, I was eager to do my residency and get into practice, but I did my service and I’m glad to have done it” he stated.

With his military commitment complete, Dr. Fitz could move on with his life goals – finish his residency and begin practicing internal medicine. Nearing the end of his three-year residency at Mt. Carmel Hospital, Dr. Fitz got a call from Dr. Tom Bottomley inquiring about his future plans. Dr. Bottomley’s partner had just passed, leaving a large patient-load, too much for one physician. Dr. Fitz saw this opportunity to return to his hometown and joined Dr. Bottomley. Their practice was located at Sixth & Wall streets – the current home to Lakewood School of Therapeutic Massage.

They were in practice together for many years. They weren’t just colleagues, they were friends. “I had four boys and four girls. He helped me construct a large model train track for my boys. He had two girls, they weren’t interested in trains – he was a big help to me,” he said. “He was a super guy, just a really good friend. It was terrific to have him as a colleague and friend. I was fortunate to practice with him, I would just open the door and he was right there, down the hall and we’d consult on cases.” Dr. Fitz concluded, “it was fun to be in practice with him”.

The doctors brought a third physician into the practice, Dr. Balboa, just prior to Dr. Bottomley’s death in December 1982. After a few years, the doctors moved their practice to the row of physician offices on the campus of Mercy Hospital, and after a short time, brought on Dr. John Jarad.

During his years in practice, Dr. Fitz, along with other area physicians, volunteered time at the newly opened People’s Clinic at Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission. The clinic served the un- and under-insured in the Blue Water Area. He volunteered in this role from the when the clinic opened in 1990 until his retirement in 1995.

He knew about hospice, understood the importance, and encouraged the use of it; however, it wasn’t until the Blue Water Hospice Home was built in 2012 that he strongly became an advocate for the care. When he saw the facility, he knew the importance this home would have for the Blue Water community – serving the terminally ill, he wanted to be a part of it. Dr. Fitz joined the staff and to this day serves as a Volunteer Physician. In this role, he attends care meetings and serves as a consultant.

He discussed how the use of hospice has really taken off since the early 1980s when Dr. Shoudy started Blue Water Hospice. “I don’t think there is a deficiency in knowledge of hospice care, I believe it is a delay in acceptance of the diagnosis as terminal.” He explained that as a physician, you know the patient will lose their life to this illness, and it is critical to get them into hospice care – so they, and the family, can get needed support. But he recognizes that sometimes the patient and/or family are not ready to accept it.

“Hospice staff is so very important in the dying process – for both the patient and family,” he said, “it can be hard for patients and families to come to terms that a diagnosis is terminal, and that we aren’t going to stop the death, we are there to make it as peaceful as possible.” He complimented the staff on the good work they do, offering a personal touch, and support to the care they provide.

So, what is next for Dr. Fitz? “I don’t know, I’m trying to figure that out,” he said with a chuckle, smile, and a wink!

Dr. Fitz is happily married to his wife, Virginia (Ginny) and together they have eight children, 12 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Thank you, Dr. Fitz, for your many years of dedicated service to the Blue Water community!