Obituary of John Fitzgerald

April 28, 1951 – October 26, 2018 John Fitzgerald coached dozens of the world’s best long distance runners and walkers, as well as thousands of other athletes from northern Saskatchewan to Australia. But that wasn’t John’s proudest accomplishment; it was loving and raising his six boys. The 67-year-old Rosthern, Saskatchewan man died of an aortic aneurysm on October 26, 2018 at Royal University Hospital with his beloved wife, Lorraine, by his side. Born in Montreal, Quebec, to parents Earl and Ruth Fitzgerald, John struggled in school with undiagnosed dyslexia. He found his calling when the local YMCA offered to let the teenager coach a swim class for children with disabilities. With the creativity, stubbornness, and generosity that became his trademark, John adapted swim techniques individually for every child dealing with amputated limbs, blindness or cerebral palsy. He insisted on calling them all “athletes.” The class proved so popular, the Sherbrooke cable TV station gave him his own weekly swim show. John could do it all. He became a nationally ranked long-distance runner. He broke several world records in snow shoeing. But it was coaching where he made a huge impact at home and on the world stage. He moved to Saskatchewan in the 1980s to become the provincial distance running coach, this was followed by a stint teaching in Stanley Mission where he met Lorraine. He also taught in Pelican Lake and the Prince Albert Grand Council First Nations. Many of his innovations are now common – box jumps, medicine balls, using pace setters or having his athletes pull John’s young sons up the Shekinah toboggan hill with a specially made rope contraption. They spent several years in Australia where John coached three athletes to Olympic race walking medals. He was also a talented handyman, building a cherry wood bed frame for Lorraine as a wedding gift as well as building the dining room table where many a family meal has been shared. He also completed many small projects for the community. John loved his family with all of his heart, and the feeling was mutual. He’ll be missed dearly by wife Lorraine; sons Blaine (Marie-Eve), Jay (Emily), Corey (Gemini), Jamieson (Macaila), Robert, and Reed; grandchildren Lily-Rose, Annabelle, Ben, and Nova; siblings Daniel (Denise), Suzanne, James, Christine (Bob), and Pat (Debbie). A Come and Go Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 7:00p.m. at Rosthern Station Arts Centre, 701 Railway Ave. The Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, October 31 at 11 a.m. at Rosthern Mennonite Church, 3016 5th St. Memorial donations may be made to Rosthern Junior College (Athletic Department) Box 5020, Rosthern, Saskatchewan, S0K 3RO. Arrangements are in the care of Funk’s Funeral Home, Rosthern. (e-transfers received at accounting@rosthernjuniorcollege.ca) John’s family is grateful to those who helped them before and during this difficult time. John would want everyone to use this emotion and grief to think about how to help others in this world. Then he’d want everyone to head outdoors for a walk, paddle, ski or run.