Edward William Fitzgerald

Edward W. Fitzgerald passed away peacefully on February 19, 2021, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years Nancy (nee Lynk); his daughter Margaret (Scott Crimin), and sons Edward “Ted” (Marie) and John (Mickey); his adoring grandchildren, Sean, Gavin, and Fiona; in-laws Mary Jo and Miles Goodwin and Kevin Lynk; nieces Kate Goodwin Krings, Susan Goodwin, and nephew Daniel Goodwin, as well as many dear friends and colleagues.



Born and raised in Chicago, Ed and his parents were members of St. Barnabas Parish. His family later moved to Winnetka, where he attended Saints Faith, Hope & Charity and Loyola Academy. He was active in Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended the University of Notre Dame where he graduated in 1963 with a B.B.A in Accountancy. His academic excellence was recognized by the Beta Alpha Psi honor society.



Upon graduation from Notre Dame, Ed married his betrothed, Nancy, a newly graduated nurse. They relocated to Fort Knox, where he served in the U.S. Army as Armor Officer from 1964 until 1966, and in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1972.



He began his career in public accounting at Arthur Young & Co. (now EY) in 1963, where he ultimately became Partner of Tax and Tax Department Chair. He earned his CPA designation in 1969. He received his M.S. in Taxation from DePaul University in 1972, earning membership in the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society.



His master’s degree enabled him to pursue his passion for teaching at the collegiate level. As adjunct faculty, he shared his real-world perspectives on professional practice with undergraduate and graduate accounting students at Loyola University Chicago, Creighton University, University of Detroit Mercy, and University of Nebraska at Omaha. Ed was a member of Creighton University’s College of Business Advisory Council, the Dean’s Club, and a longstanding member of The Creighton Society. In 2003, Creighton University recognized Ed with its John P. Begley Award for Distinguished Service and named he and his wife, Nancy, Honorary Alumni.



Ed was actively involved in the Nebraska CPA Society where he served on the Board of Directors and as Board Chair. Among his accomplishments was leading the establishment of the Society’s scholarship program benefitting accounting students, which continues to grow. He also served on the Governing Council of the American Institute of CPAs. In 2010, he received the Society’s Public Service Award recognizing his dedicated and generous service to the profession.



Upon retiring from EY, Ed became Chief Financial Officer of Boys Town. In addition to providing stewardship of Boys Town’s assets, he oversaw its national expansion and real estate portfolio, served on the Boys Town National Research Hospital’s Governance Committee, and was Chief Negotiator for the Boys Town Police Department. He retired in 2000. Despite his twice-retired status, he continued to work with several of his cherished clients and their families, as well as with SCOLA as Chief Financial Officer.



Ed was truly a man for others. He generously gave his time, talent, and treasure to those that exemplified his values of faith, education, justice, public service, inclusive and equitable access to opportunity, and care of the most vulnerable. He served on the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America’s Mid-America Council; the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association; St. Mary Magdalene’s Parish Council; the Archbishop’s Committee for Development; and endowed scholarships at the University of Notre Dame and Creighton University. In recognition for his significant and longstanding service to church, society and education, the University of Notre Dame presented Ed with its distinguished Examplar Award.



Although tax season seemed never-ending, Ed generously shared his love of international travel, toy soldiers, trains, firefighting, history, and lifelong learning with his wife and children during his free time.



Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Dorothy (nee Hurley) Fitzgerald; in-laws Fred and Rita (nee Castino) Lynk; uncles Frank Hurley and George Hurley; aunts Ruth Hilgartner and Luella Hecht; and cousins Daniel Hilgartner and Donald Hecht.



A private Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Chicago at a later date.



I lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances in Ed’s honor to the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish Initiative (https://giving.nd.edu/priorities/fighting-irish-initiative/).





































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