Phillip H. Fitz-Gerald, 97, a retired Navy rear admiral who was a highly decorated combat veteran of World War II, died of congestive heart failure December 30, 1999 at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood, Minnesota. Admiral Fitz-Gerald, a Springfield resident, was visiting his grandchildren when he died.

During World War II, he was a gunnery officer on the cruiser New Orleans and the commander of a destroyer and then of a destroyer division. He was in Pearl Harbor when it was attacked by the Japanese navy on December 7, 1941, and later served in the historic battles of the Coral Sea and Midway.

Admiral Fitz-Gerald's wartime decorations included the Navy Cross, the Navy's highest award for valor except for the Medal of Honor, and the Legion of Merit with combat "V."

After the war, he commanded a destroyer squadron and was assigned to the office of chief of naval operations. His last assignment before retiring from active duty in 1955 was as chief of the naval mission to Peru.

Admiral Fitz-Gerald, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, was a 1925 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Before World War II, he attended Submarine School.

From the late 1950s to the early 1970s, Admiral Fitz-Gerald was a lobbyist with Engineers Inc.

Admiral Fitz-Gerald, an avid golfer, was a member of the Army Navy Country Club.

His wife of 62 years, Mildred Dunn, died in 1993.

Survivors include his daughter, Nancy C. FitzGerald of Springfield; three granddaughters; and five great-grandchildren.

On Thursday, December 30, 1999, in Maplewood, MN, PHILLIP HENRY FITZ-GERALD of Springfield, VA, beloved husband of the late Mildred Dunn Fitz-Gerald; dear father of Nancy Catherine FitzGerald. Also survived by his granddaughters, Ann F. Ruffner, Karen R. Nasca and Catherine E. Anderson and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 18, at the Old Post Chapel, Ft. Myer, at 9 a.m. Interment Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to U.S.N.A. Alumni Association, 247 King George St., Annapolis, MD 21402.