Walter J. Fitzmaurice ’49
Walter J. Fitzmaurice, North Reading, MA, died January 10, 2024, at the age of 100. Walter received the Col. Donald Cook ’56 Award from the College in 2010 for his heroic military service during World War II. He also was a President’s Medallion supporter of the College.
Born in Rumford, Maine, Walter graduated from Stephens High School in Rumford and was drafted into service for the U.S. Army Air Force during the height of World War II. As a Technical Sergeant stationed at RAF Shipdham in Norfolk, England, Walter served his country as a radio operator and machine gunner on Consolidated B-24 Liberators for the Eighth Air Force, 44th Bomb Group, 68th Squadron. From 1943 until the end of the war in 1945, he became a veteran of 30 combat missions over enemy occupied territory in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign. All missions were flown with the renowned General Johnson’s Flying Eight Balls.
Walter became a highly decorated veteran, receiving the Air Medal six times and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater ribbon with four Battle Stars. He also received a Presidential Citation for flying with the 68th from Libya targeting the heavily defended oil fields at Plesti, Romania. The success of this mission shut down the flow and supply of oil to the Nazi war machine from the Balkans, a true turning point in the war. Most recently, in 2009, The Republic of France presented Walter with their highest honor, The Legion of Honor Medal at a ceremony in Boston Harbor for his participation and bravery during a single plane mission under the cover of darkness into occupied France to deliver much needed supplies to the French Resistance.
After his service, Walter enrolled at Saint Michael’s and earned a bachelor’s degree in biological studies.
After working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Defense for over a decade, Walter spent most of his career as a Food Scientist for Natick Labs. Among other notable research and development projects for the U.S. Army, he directed Natick Lab’s team whose efforts provided food for NASA’s first crewed lunar landing on the moon in 1969.
Walter was a daily communicant of St. Theresa’s Church, and through this parish, he found a loving community of lifelong friends. He enjoyed countless conversations and stories with these friends during coffee hour after every Mass he attended. He also volunteered for over three decades teaching Christian Doctrine and was a founding team member of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, and active in the K of C. In 2013 he joined other veterans along with a group of American students participating in the 70th Anniversary commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic/Tribute to the 8th Army Air Corps in England.
He and his wife raised eight children in North Reading, MA, where they resided together for over 72 years. He had a deep spirit of generosity and respect for others, always supporting those in need with empathy and through numerous charitable organizations.
After moving to Rhode Island in 2020, Walter continued to make friends in his new community with fellow residents and caregivers and took pride in remembering all of their names.
A daughter and a son predeceased him, as did his brother Donald Fitzmaurice ’51. Walter was the loving husband of Lorraine Mae (Martelle) Fitzmaurice for nearly 75 years, and she survives. He also is survived by a son, five daughters and extended family, including grandson Robert Encarnacao ’93.
