Francis Fitzgerald, President of Monsanto Co. Since April 1, Dies

Francis (Jack) Fitzgerald, president and chief executive officer of Monsanto Co., died at his home Saturday, one day after delivering his first state-of-the-company address.

Fitzgerald, 58, had been president and a member of Monsanto’s board of directors since April 1. A company spokesman said the cause of Fitzgerald’s death was not known.

“Jack Fitzgerald inspired us all in his service to family, church, community and company,” said Richard Mahoney, Monsanto’s chairman and chief executive officer. “He was a brilliant leader. We will miss him deeply.”

Fitzgerald joined Monsanto in 1951 as a cost analyst and steadily rose through the ranks of one of the world’s biggest chemical companies. In 1979, he was appointed chairman of Monsanto Europe. After two years in Europe, he returned to St. Louis as executive vice president with responsibility for Monsanto International.

Fitzgerald earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Notre Dame in 1950. He is survived by his wife, the former Patricia Sullivan, and seven children.