Dr. Paul Fitzgerald, a 52-year resident of Winchester and who practiced dentistry in Stoneham for his entire career, died Wednesday, October 10. He was 81 and the cause was a malignant brain tumor. Dr. Fitzgerald was born in Winchester and grew up in Reading, the third of eight children of Pauline and Maurice Fitzgerald. He was educated in the Reading public schools. He suffered a severe leg injury at age 16 in a motor vehicle accident and was hospitalized for six months at Winchester Hospital. Through sheer determination and the encouragement of the Reading high school principal, he was able to graduate at age 16. He spent a year at Tufts University and then a year in the Army in Alabama. He returned to Tufts and graduated from Tufts Dental School in 1950. He began practice in Stoneham that year, building an office across from the town hall at 30 Central St. Never one to let others do his choosing, he selected his own bricks and iron work during
construction. His practice thrived and he pursued a long-term interest in dental anesthesia in an effort to make general procedures more comfortable. He took numerous courses in London and at the University of
Dundee, Scotland to learn the techniques of IV sedation in general dentistry and adopted them in his practice. He was an active member of the British organization, the Society for the Advancement of Anesthesia
in Dentistry (S.A.A.D.) as well as the Massachusetts Dental Society and the ADA. Many agree he was a pioneer in this field especially for that time. His practice lasted 41 years when he retired and transferred his
patients to his children Dr. Susan Fitzgerald of Reading and Dr. Daniel Fitzgerald of Stoneham. Dr. Fitzgerald had an avid interest in modern architecture and to that end, built three contemporary houses in Winchester and Gloucester. The latter home on the Annisquam River was well known to passing boaters. He resided in the Winchester homes for 47 years. He enjoyed traveling immensely with his wife, the late Eleanor A. (Costello) Fitzgerald. They especially enjoyed linking up with family in County Clare, Ireland where they returned frequently. Dr. Fitzgerald and his wife had five children, Paul Fitzgerald of Reading, Dr. Daniel Fitzgerald of Boxford, Dr. Lisa Fitzgerald of Newton, Dr. Susan Fitzgerald of Reading and Dr. Maria Fitzgerald of Riverside, Illinois. He also leaves 14 grandchildren, two sisters, Martha Fitzgerald Knight and Emily Gollin and two brothers Richard Fitzgerald and Daniel Fitzgerald.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, October 13 @ 10 AM in St. Eulalia's Church, 50 Ridge St. Winchester. Interment took place in Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Fitzgerald’s memory may be made to Mass. General Hospital Heart Center or to the Mass. General Cancer Center, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114.