Obituary of Catherine FITZGERALD

"Her Irish Eyes Are Smiling"Catherine T. FitzgeraldApril 17, 1930 - November 5, 2007Catherine gracefully and peacefully went to heaven on November 5, 2007 with her family by her side. She was born to John and Lillian McCoy in New York City. She is survived by her sister, Mary Collins of Lake Havasu City and her brother, James McCoy and his wife, Peggy of Murells Inlet, South Carolina. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Bob Fackelman of Lake Havasu City and her sister-in-law, Patty McCoy of Richmond Hill, New York, along with many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Catherine is also survived by many close friends, whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her sister, Lillian Fackelman and brother, John McCoy.Catherine was very special. She was always there with a helping hand and good advice. When she entered a room, it would light up from the sparkle of her eyes and her smile. At gatherings she was best known for breaking into song - singing the traditional Irish family ballads.In her professional career, Catherine was the first and top female officer of each of the five corporations she worked for, the first woman to be named Director of the San Diego Gas and Electric Company and NY Board of Trade in its 100 year history. As Executive Vice President she had world wide responsibilities in two of these companies, Avon Products and I.N.G. She designed the I.N.G. International Business School based in the Netherlands. Catherine was identified by the New York Times as one of the three most influential Business Women, was the subject of an article entitled ''Top business Women" in the Los Angeles Times and featured in Business Week Magazine in an article entitled "Women Finally Get Mentors of Their Own.Catherine used this leverage to design a Career Development Program to identify women within these Organizations who had the interest and talent to participate, and provided individual development plans, counseling, training and on the job experience. More than 500 women in these 5 corporations were promoted to management: level positions during her tenure. Catherine continues to support women in our community through scholarship programs and individual improvement counseling.She was named WNEA's Woman of the Year in 2004 in recognition of her lifetime support of women and her community service. She has been a guest speaker at Mohave Community College, WNEA, and the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce, provided consultation to Lake Havasu City School District, chaired the Lake Havasu City Film Festival, and sponsored scholarships for Mohave Community College and WNEA.It was Catherine's request that there be no services. In lieu of flowers to the family, it is requested that a donation be made to Hospice of Havasu, PO Box 597, Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86405. The family is ever so grateful to Hospice for all the love and support they gave to Catherine and her family.Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.comArrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.