1948 - 2026
Born in Natick on July 23, 1948, Douglas was the son of the late Reginald and Helen (Lord) Fitzgerald and was raised in Natick.
He graduated from Natick High School in 1966, went on to attend the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1970, and later earned a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University.
Douglas settled in Franklin with his family in 1977 and, after a brief period living in Uxbridge, returned to Franklin in 2017.
He proudly served in the United States Navy for six years during the Vietnam War, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.
After completing his military service, Douglas built a long career in defense contracting before retiring in 2009.
Doug had a love for reading, traveling, and baseball—especially following Ted Williams. He deeply valued time spent supporting his daughters in their activities when they were young and later enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s events.
In retirement, Doug found joy in woodworking, crafting furniture and other pieces by hand.
