FRANCIS JOSEPH FITZGIBBON, JR. April 6, 1948 – Aug. 17, 2021

Francis Joseph Fitzgibbon Jr. of Los Alamos, New Mexico, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in Santa Fe of complications from recent surgery.

Joe was born April 6, 1948, in El Paso, Texas as the eldest son of Nancy Scott and Francis Joseph Fitzgibbon, Sr. Joe spent his childhood in Los Alamos, graduating from Los Alamos High School. He went on to college at the University of New Mexico graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree.

After many years of working for private contractors serving the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Joe went to work for LANL at TA55 of Maintenance Site Services (MSS) as a Work Control Planner. Joe retired from LANL in 2013.

Besides being a man of many talents, that of artist, beekeeper, and Boy Scout leader, Joe had two major and continuing passions in life, his family and his birding. Joe was extremely active in the birding community of New Mexico and of the Intermountain West. He served as a dedicated board member of the Sangre de Christo Audubon Society and was currently deeply involved with the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), conducting educational bird walks through Los Luceros Historic Site and helping children participate in bird banding at Bandelier National Monument. The birds seemed to sense a kindred spirit, even coming to Joe on one occasion. In the spring of 2015, a tagged rare California Condor flew into Joe’s back yard and gave Joe enough time to take multiple photos before it flew off.

Sally, Joe’s wife, was the center of his universe and companion for 46 years. He also is survived by their children, Jimmy Caruthers of Costa Mesa, California, and Scott Fitzgibbon and his wife, Reni of Ruidoso, and their two sons, Alaisdair and Jaimeson; his six siblings, Christopher Fitzgibbon of Los Alamos, Kathleen Fitzgibbon of Green Valley, Arizona, Mary Ellen Laub and her husband, Rick of San Clemente, California, James Fitzgibbon and his wife, Eva of Rio Rancho, Georgann Scott Fitzgibbon of Las Cruces, Teresa Fitzgibbon and her husband, Harrison Schmitt of Albuquerque, and honorary brother and life long friend, David DeGeer of Albuquerque.

His parents, Nancy Scott and Francis Joseph Fitzgibbon, Sr., and his nephew, Army Specialist Timothy Fitzgibbon, have preceded Joe in death.

A deeply religious, spiritual and lifelong devout Catholic, Joe was activity involved for decades as a parishioner in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church community in Los Alamos. Joe was particularity devout within the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at Immaculate Heart of Mary.

A Funeral Mass for Joe will be celebrated at 9 a.m./MDT Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Los Alamos Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Interment will take place at Guaje Pines Cemetery immediately following the Mass. A celebration of the Holy Rosary will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary at 7 p.m./MDT, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021.

If desired, gifts in Joe’s memory may be made to the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Los Alamos, NM.