Msgr. William F. Fitzgerald, P.A., J.C.D., who was a priest of the diocese for 63 years and served for 48 years in the central administration of the diocese including as vicar general and chancellor, died Jan. 13 in St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton. He was 86.

Funeral services will be held Jan. 17 in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 137 W. Upper Ferry Rd., West Trenton, where Msgr. Fitzgerald had served as pastor from 1973 until his retirement in 2001. The Rite of Reception will be celebrated at 2 p.m. followed by visiting hours until 7 p.m. when the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Burial will be the following day, Jan. 18, in St. Mary Cemetery, South Amboy.

Msgr. Fitzgerald was born in Newark and raised in South Amboy, and attended St. Mary Elementary School and High School. He prepared for the priesthood in St. Charles College, Catonsville, Md., and St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore. He was ordained a priest June 28, 1950, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral,Trenton.

Following his ordination, Msgr. Fitzgerald was sent to The Catholic University of America, Washington, to pursue studies in canon law and returned three years later to an assignment in the Diocesan Chancery as assistant chancellor.

He was named vice offialis in 1960; vice chancellor in 1963, and chancellor in 1966.

Under Bishop John C. Reiss, Msgr. Fitzgerald served as episcopal vicar for administration in 1983 and vicar for organizational services in 1986, a position to which he was renamed in 1989 and 1992. In 1992, he was named moderator of the curia.

 In 1997, Bishop John M. Smith named Msgr. Fitzgerald vicar general of the diocese.

In the course of his long and exemplary ministry in the diocese, Msgr. Fitzgerald served as pastor in several parishes including St. Joseph, Trenton, 1967-1973, and Our Lady of Good Counsel, West Trenton.

Other significant posts Msgr. Fitzgerald held included membership on the board of trustees for Morris Hall-St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrenceville, and St. Peter Hospital, New Brunswick.

On three occasions, he was recognized by the Holy Father, for his outstanding contributions to the Church. He was named a papal chamberlain Oct. 5, 1963 and given the title Reverend Monsignor by Pope John XXIII. He was named a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness Sept. 15, 1977, by Pope Paul VI. On Dec. 11, 1983, he was given the rare honor of being named a Protonotary Apostolic.

In past stories and interviews that had been published in The Monitor over the years, Msgr. Fitzgerald reflected on highlights of his priesthood, citing that “working with Bishop Ahr was tops for me” because it was a period from 1950-1980 when the diocese was undergoing tremendous expansion.

“Every weekend Bishop Ahr was out dedicating a church, a school, a rectory or convent,” Msgr. Fitzgerald said during a 2001 interview about his retirement from diocesan administration.

Another highpoint for Msgr. Fitzgerald was Pope John Paul II’s visit to Philadelphia in 1979 during which he, along with two other priests – Msgr. Michael P. McCorristin and Father Gabriel Ivascu -- were seated in the front row, center aisle and received holy Communion from the pope.

“They were the best seats in the house,” he said, acknowledging Cardinal John J. Krol of Philadelphia who he came to know through the annual nationwide Indian and Negro Collection, which the cardinal chaired for the U.S. bishops and Msgr. Fitzgerald headed in the diocese.

For Msgr. Fitzgerald, the most difficult event to occur during his priesthood was witnessing the March 14, 1956, tragic fire in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, which claimed the lives of Msgr. Richard T. Crean and two housekeepers.

Three other priests who were living in the cathedral rectory were injured. Msgr. Fitzgerald, who also lived in the rectory, however, was the only one to escape the inferno without injuries.

Msgr. Fitzgerald was predeceased by his parents, William and Anna Fitzgerald. He is survived by his sister, Franciscan Sister Marian William Fitzgerald.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Msgr. Fitzgerald’s name may be made to Villa Vianney, the diocesan residence for retired priests, 2301 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.