Thomas G. FitzGerald; Tupperware Distributor

Ventura resident Thomas Gordon FitzGerald, a former Tupperware distributor, died Wednesday in Ventura. He was 76.

FitzGerald was born April 10, 1921, in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1924.

He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1940 and attended Los Angeles City College before serving in World War II, where he was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars.

After the war, FitzGerald attended the University of Southern California. He graduated in 1949. It was at a USC street dance that he met his future wife, Sally.

They were married Sept. 9, 1947, at St. Vincent’s Church in Los Angeles. Their son, Michael, who lives in Glendale, was born in March 1951.

FitzGerald began his career in the garment district and went on to work for Douglas Aircraft as a statistician. He became bored with numbers, and with Sally’s help started selling Tupperware.

From 1960 to 1963, they distributed Tupperware in northern New Jersey, and in 1963 they moved to Ventura. From 1963 to 1971, FitzGerald and his wife were distributors for Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Tom FitzGerald ended his working years at Green Meadow Nursery in Camarillo and Construction and Rigging Supply Inc. in Ventura. He retired in 1985.

He and his wife were members of Sacred Heart Church in Ventura since 1969. For 10 years, he was a member of the church choir.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated today at Sacred Heart Church. Entombment will be at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard.

Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura.