John F. “Jack” Fitzsimmons was born in New York, N.Y. on Oct. 4, 1920, to Frank and Regina Fitzsimmons.

Jack was the eldest of four boys and grew up in White Plains, N.Y. As a youth, Jack was an excellent student athlete who excelled at football and baseball. He was also a strong swimmer, and spent his summers working as a lifeguard and youth-camp counselor at Lake Placid.

After earning his undergraduate degree from New York University, Jack enlisted in the Army in 1943, anxious to serve his country in World War II. He was sent to Seattle to complete seamanship training and became the skipper of an Army transport ship.

While stationed in Seattle, Jack met and married Eleanor Burlingham, who was a Navy Wave serving as an air-traffic controller at Sand Point Naval Air Station. After a brief honeymoon, the two were separated for the next two years, while Jack fought in the Aleutian Campaign in Alaska.

Honorably discharged from the Army in 1946, Jack and Eleanor moved to New York City, where Jack attended the New York University School of Law, and the couple started a family.

After completing his studies, Jack made the decision to pursue a career as a stock broker and investment banker, rather than practice law. He Joined Dean Witter and Company in 1949 and moved his family to the Pacific Northwest to establish a new office for the firm in Seattle.

After a very successful, 13-year career with Dean Witter, Jack co-founded Herron Northwest, a full- service brokerage and investment-banking firm, in 1962. Jack became president and chief executive officer a few years later, and led the firm through rapid growth and expansion. In 1978, Jack orchestrated the merger of Herron Northwest with Piper Jaffray & Hopwood.

During his business career, Jack actively gave back to the community, serving on the boards of several public service organizations, including the American Red Cross, the United Way, the YMCA and the CYO. He also taught evening business classes at Seattle University. Jack and Eleanor were generous donors to the Seattle Art Museum and various Catholic charities.

Jack retired in 1986, and he and Eleanor moved to their summer home on Whidbey Island, where Jack continued his tradition of community service as a member of the Island County Board of Equalization.

Sadly, Jack’s beloved wife Eleanor died in 1990 at the young age of 69. Jack and Eleanor were married for 47 years and raised eight children together.

In 1992, Jack married Evelyn Shipman, and the two shared each other’s company until her death in 1995. In 1996, Jack married Barbara Fouts, who also predeceased him.

In the later years of his life, Jack was an avid bridge player, a grade-school tutor, and delivered Meals on Wheels to senior citizens.

Jack is survived by his eight children, Patricia Fitzsimmons, John Michael Fitzsimmons, Thomas Craig Fitzsimmons, Mary Beth Fitzsimmons Schoeler, Catherine Fitzsimmons Rutledge, William James Fitzsimmons, Paul Matthew Fitzsimmons, and Margaret Fitzsimmons Boe. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Friends and family may call at Visser Funeral Home in Langley at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. A vigil service will follow at 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Hubert Catholic Church in Langley at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30. A graveside service with full military honors will take place at noon at the Bayview Cemetery in Clinton.

In lieu of flowers, Jack’s family requests that donations be made to the American Red Cross.