Parcourez la nécrologie de Bill Fitzgerald Sunday April 28th 2024 résidant dans la province Ontario pour le détail des funérailles
William (Bill) Fitzgerald passed away on April 28, 2024, just having celebrated his 17th birthday.
Bill was a leap year baby, and true to his nature, he took life in leaps and bounds, embracing it with passion, joy, and a delightfully wicked sense of humour.
His career was determined early. At the age of 4, he unearthed a 19th century redware crock in his Dundas, Ontario home, while digging in his backyard. He kept it as a cherished possession. He would recount how he knew, from that moment, that there were treasures to be found in this world — treasures that lay, quite literally, under his feet.
He attended McMaster University (BA Summa Cum Laude, 1978) (MA 1981) and McGill (PhD, 1990) always majoring in archaeology. In November 2023, he was awarded the J. V. Wright Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ontario Archaeological Society for «An exceptional contribution to archaeology in Ontario» for «An inspirational career and work consistently of the highest standard/Being the highest recognition the Society can bestow upon a professional archaeologist.» He was so completely humbled by this accolade from his peers that at one point we honestly feared he would not show up for the ceremony. He was never one for the limelight.
Bill’s groundbreaking work with the People of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation was instrumental in helping them preserve their cultural legacy from an archaeological perspective. His pivotal contributions to the Treaty 72 Land Claims, and his creation of the Standards and Guidelines manual for conducting archaeological investigations in SON Territory were seminal to SON’s cultural objectives.
Innately, he knew the monumental importance of preserving the continuity of culture by tracking and recording countless burial grounds, conservation easements and sacred sites. Sites such as the Saugeen Rivermouth and Craigleith are two critical examples.
He dedicated the past two years preparing an exhaustive book on Saugeen Ojibway Nation history, working indefatigably to uncover original documents and maps. This legacy will help put some serious misconceptions on its ear.
Bill’s unrelenting dedication to the preservation of indigenous culture will long be valued in SON Territory and will have far-reaching implications for their territorial future.
In greater scope, Bill carved a unique path in Ontario archaeology, broadening the knowledge of the field through rigorous scholarship. His multi-disciplinary approach defined his work: he knew there could not be advancement and true knowledge without it. «If you operate in a vacuum the only thing you’re going to gather is dust.»
His exacting nature challenged the status quo at every turn, never satisfied with simply recycling and regurgitating it. He researched thoroughly and tirelessly from every angle, considering every point of view. He was passionate about Truth, wherever it led. He did not simply flounder through accepted gurglings but insisted on academic integrity and scrupulousness.
Bill broadcast collegiality, offering what he learned freely. He believed it was a duty to share knowledge so that we all benefit, collectively; he was often cofounded by people’s tight-fisted, jealous guardianship of their discoveries.
Bill became a mentor to many archaeologists-in-the making who benefited from his broad erudition. He was known for his fastidious and exacting work ethics – and his superb end-of-season parties!
He could be obstinate, but that only meant he was tenacious. He could be infuriating but that only meant that he provoked you to do better.
Bruce Trigger, his mentor at McGill once slyly wisecracked (as much as Trigger could wisecrack!) «You don’t suffer fools gladly, do you?»
He made enemies among those who could not stand to be challenged; he made many more friends — those who remained fiercely loyal were repaid many-fold by his own loyalty and trust.
As a family man, he was fun-loving and hard-working. He loved renovating old houses. He and Julie had a gift for finding diamonds in the rough and transforming them through their mutual passion for restoring them to their former glory. He was an avid gardener and landscape architect, creating wonderful gardens, on the farm that he loved, with old barn beams and sheer ingenuity. He and Julie loved to travel, drinking life to its lees.
In the past few years, Bill was stricken with debilitating health challenges which essentially put him in a cage. Weakened — at times beyond imagining– his charm and spirit never seemed to fade, waking up and greeting Julie every morning with a smile despite his, at times, unbearable pain.
Bill most regretted the lost freedom of walking the woods he loved, the ability to «play in the dirt» as he called his archaeology, his ability to just hop in his truck and go on his endless quest for chert, often dragging Julie on his crusades, in search of the elusive Holy Grail of chert outcrops. Even in his last months, while in a wheelchair, he harnessed Helen into action, directing her from the car window into ports and coves and up rock faces.
One of the fondest memories that Julie holds in her mind is the Electronica raves he attended with Tanya, in spirit, in the 90s. They «got» each other because they each «got» what was important.
One of the happiest days of his life was reconnecting with Doran, another dear friend of the race that knows Joseph. He never, ever gave up living with joy.
The world has lost a wise scholar, a kind-hearted rogue, an outlier, a loyal friend, a loving husband.
He will be deeply mourned by Julie for the rest of her life.
The world will be a lesser place without him.
Bill’s many friends and colleagues will feel his loss and will recognize it most when there’s no answer at the end of the phone line, «Hey, Bill I have some questions about this chert we came across ….»
Bill made Julie promise to sign off, on his behalf, by giving a special «shout-out» to those he most loved: Frank & Debbie; Milva & Gil, and The Boyz, Uncle Tony, Tanya, Helen S., Doran, Linda, and Elin. Though he could never confess it to their faces, Julie heard repeatedly of his fierce love and deep regard for them, for their talents.
February 29, 1956 – April 28, 2024.
Flights of angels, my love. You’re free again.
A memorial service will be held from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1st, 2024, at Klage’s Mill in Chesley, Ontario. It is a formal farewell, so confirmation of your attendance can be made with Julie at sjfitzgerald1@gmail.com for instructions and directions.
Expressions of sympathy on behalf of Dr. Dig can be made to your favourite animal shelter or rescue. He would love you for it! — as he was a great defender and protector of those who could not speak for themselves. Donations and condolences may be made online at www.cameronfuneralhomes.com
Sunday April 28th 2024
Décès pour la Ville:Walkerton, Province: Ontario
avis deces Bill Fitzgerald Sunday April 28th 2024
nécrologie Bill Fitzgerald Sunday April 28th 2024
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Bill Fitzgerald Sunday April 28th 2024 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.