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Today's Featured Biography

Lawrence Fitzgerald

It's not good manners to speak of your accomplishments, but in the 1960 yearbook it was noted I was "leaving by the nearest exit," apparently having been voted least likely to succeed" by the clever Yearbook authors of that day. This was the result of having to return for an unheard of 6th year. Needing 2 minor credits to secure my diploma I returned in September, but in October 1960 quit DHS. However, since leaving those "hallowed halls of learning," and not having "The Almighty DHS Diploma" my professional accomplishments have exceeded the expectations of many since none can be construed as "mediocre!"

In 1961, I enlisted in the Navy and after being discharged in 1965 worked as an auto mechanic while taking night courses at Seton Hall University.

In 1972, I enrolled in an Aircraft Mechanic school and acquired both Federal Licenses in 1973, but the Arab-Israeli War precluded finding work in the Aviation industry. However, since I had been teaching automotive courses in a local HS since 1969, after graduating Aircraft School the next 8 years were spent teaching full time, 1st for Volvo of America and later for Mercedes-Benz of North America.

In 1981, I became the Ground Equipment Service Director for Butler Aviation at Newark Airport responsible for maintenance of over 200 aircraft support vehicles.

In 1987 I became an Engineering Consultant to the Port Authority of NY & NJ designing vehicles with unique vocational applications, managing their purchase contracts and conducting maintenance reviews of their 600+ vehicle "Shadow Fleet" of transit coaches and aircraft refueling trucks.

For a time I also served as a Technical Consultant to the Israeli Army developing maintenance programs for secondary armored vehicles used by Combat Engineers..

I am also a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers as Secretary along with being Vice-chair of Membership for the METROPOLITAN SECTION [the local chapter],and also serve on the Morris County School of Technology Advisory Council. Recently I became an Adjunct Professor teaching Automotive Technology at our local Community College.

Not too shabby for a guy with just a GED!

At the end of each working day I return home to the quiet solitude of the deep woods. In 1999, my older son and I purchased a home once owned 20 years earlier with an ex-girl friend! Located at the top of a dead end road the house sits on 12 acres with a trout stream in the front yard and 15 miles of state land bordering two sides. We've named it "The Bierskill Glen Farm & Mill" - nestled in "The Glen of a Thousand Autumns."

After retiring I intend to continue my martial art studies in Nihon Goshin Aikido, Jujitsu, Samurai sword and Tai Chi. Perhaps even publish a "Student Notebook!"

We also intend to establish a small working farm cultivating gourmet mushrooms while spending the days "watching purple clouds turn scarlet in the setting sun - where the air is cool as music when the day is done."” And in the dawn of each new day watch "as the sun say 'Good day' to the mountain and the night says 'Hello' to the dawn - where "Red-tailed hawks write songs across the sky - there's music in the waters flowing by - you can hear a song each time the wind sighs."

Perhaps some may feel I'm "over romanticizing future plans, but it is merely "Contentment" for all that Providence has allowed me to accomplish!

Although "I'm not an Engineer I enjoy "playing" one in real life and recently designed and constructed [by hand] a 40-ton bridge across the trout stream. My next project will be to construct a fieldstone mill house with a 20-foot water wheel to generate electrical power for the farm and provide geothermal heating and cooling to the residence.

As a footnote I believe the derisive laughter of those "clever HS yearbook authors who could not resist" noting my leaving DHS by the nearest exit"” has since become deafening silence! However, they are not alone with regard to my having failed to "live down to their expectations!"

But, for me "there's nothing here but grains of sand - nothing much worth saving" except the words of a 12th century Japanese work that serves to keep all things in perspective.

"The sound of the distant temple bell echoes the impermanence of all things.

The colors of the wildflowers reveal that even the prosperous must decline.

The proud do not endure - they are like a dream on a spring night.

The mighty fall at last - they are as dust before the wind!"

Heike Monogatari - Tales of the Genpai Wars

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