Fr. Gerald Joseph Fitzsimmons, S.M.M., a Montfort Missionary priest, died July 19, 2024 after a courageous battle with ALS; he was 76 years old. Born July 11, 1948, the son of Donal and Hazel (O’Reilly) Fitzsimmons, Fr. Fitz was raised in St. Teresa of Avila Parish in South Ozone Park and attended High School at Montfort Seminary in Bay Shore from 1962-1966. Completing his novitiate year at Montfort Novitiate in Hartford City, Indiana, he professed vows August 15, 1967. He received his undergraduate degree and Master of Divinity from St. Louis University, and was ordained a priest February 22, 1975. He exercised a long and fruitful parish ministry, first at Infant Jesus Parish in Port Jefferson, 1974-1979, and then at St. Mary Gate of Heaven, Ozone Park, from 1981–1986 as Associate Pastor and again from 2009-2018 as Pastor. Father Fitzsimmons had a special calling and gift as a preacher of parish missions and retreats and from 1987 till his illness confined him, he travelled and preached across the United States, at times with a Team of priests and lay people or alone. From 1993-2006 he served as Provincial Superior of the Montfort Missionaries in the United States. For many years Fr. Fitzsimmons assisted both nationally and internationally in helping victims of clergy abuse with a ministry of compassion, wisdom, and justice. He will be dearly missed and remembered by his sister, Margaret McAlvannah, her husband Tom and their children James and Nicole; by the McGuire Family; by his brothers and sisters in the Montfortian Family, and by the extraordinary number of people whose lives have been touched by Fr. Fitzsimmons in his nearly fifty years of priesthood. The wake will be Tuesday July 23rd from 3:00 pm until 7:30 pm at the Sacred Heart Chapel Building 3 on the property of the Sisters of St. Joseph - Brentwood, 1725 Brentwood Road, Brentwood, NY 11717. The funeral Mass will be Wednesday July 24th at 11:00am at the same location as the wake.

We ask that if you wish to donate in the name of Fr. Jerry, we would appreciate your gift to be given for the continued work of Montfortian Office of Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults. Please make out the check to the Montfort Missionaries, 26 South Saxon Ave. Bay Shore, NY 11706.