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Release: Obituary of Brendan Fitzgerald, 41, aide to Spitzer, Paterson and Cuomo and current executive deputy secretary of state. Statement from Cuomo included.
NYSNYS News

For Immediate Release: 11/19/2018
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO



STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO ON THE PASSING OF BRENDAN FITZGERALD


"Brendan Fitzgerald was a brilliant and devoted public servant who spent two decades serving the people of the State of New York in a variety of critical roles, including Deputy Secretary for General Government and Financial Services and most recently Executive Deputy Secretary of State.

"Brendan was fiercely intelligent and kind, but perhaps above all, he was deeply passionate about serving and protecting all New Yorkers. He worked tirelessly on key economic development priorities and helped to advance legislation to legalize mixed martial arts and protect consumers with new anti-ticket scalping provisions. Brendan was widely respected by his co-workers, and by the entire team, for his loyalty, tenacity and willingness to always lend a hand to help his colleagues.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my profound gratitude for Brendan's service to our state and my deepest condolences to his family, especially his wife Lauren and son Jack, during this incredibly difficult time."


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Brendan William Fitzgerald

VOORHEESVILLE -- Brendan William Fitzgerald, 41, of Voorheesville, died Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at his home following a long illness where he was defiant to the last.

Born in Pittsfield, Mass. on May 14, 1977, the son of Rose Fitzgerald, he graduated from Lenox Memorial High School in 1995 and earned his bachelor's degree from Siena College in 1999.

Brendan was a passionate and dedicated public servant for the State of New York. Most recently he served as the Executive Deputy Secretary of State. Prior to this appointment, he served in Governor Cuomo's administration as Deputy Secretary for General Government and Financial Services, overseeing a portfolio of agencies dealing with insurance, banking, taxation, business licensing, gaming, and government operations. He also served Governor Cuomo's administration as Assistant Secretary for Financial Services. Brendan served the administrations of Governors Paterson and Spitzer as Assistant Secretary for Technology, Operations and Gaming, and Special Assistant for Public Finance and Local Government, respectively. Prior to his roles in the Governor's Office, Brendan worked for the New York State Assembly as a Principal Legislative Analyst in the Office of Program and Counsel. He began his State service in 1999 as a writer in the Assembly Speaker's Correspondence Office. He was a volunteer EMT for the Town of Colonie, as well as a Police Explorer and Traffic Officer in his hometown of Lenox, Mass.

Brendan is survived by his mother of Lenox, Mass.; his wife, Lauren Denison and son, John "Jack" Fitzgerald of Voorheesville; his half-sister, Rachel Gibson; uncles, Dennis and John Fitzgerald and their wives, Dolie and Karen; cousins, Brigid, Dennis Patrick, Chelsea, and Ava Fitzgerald; parents-in-law, Maureen and James Denison; brothers-in-law, Stephen and Ryan Denison; and countless devoted friends, including Brian, Graham, Kristy, and Tracy.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to may make a donation in Brendan's name to Community Hospice Foundation, 310 Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208; or, online at Communityhospice.org; or, his son Jack's college fund at www.Ugift529.com using code 455-f4r; or, for both in care of the Roche Funeral Home, P.O. Box 152, 120 Main St., Lenox, MA 01240.

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