Dear Editor:
The recent untimely death of Hoboken’s native son Maurice Fitzgibbons has had a profound impact on all who had the privilege to know him. I first met Maurice while I was a grammar school student at Connors School back in 1983 as a volunteer for my first political campaign. Maurice often tells the story of how I was one of the hardest working campaign volunteers he had ever met.
When I graduated from law school a few years ago, Maurice gave me the newspaper clipping of me featured in the Hudson Dispatch of me pulling red wagon filled with campaign literature during the ’83 campaign. Maurice always had a way of making you reminisce about the past and making you smile. He was always giving people gifts, whether it was Italian bread or simply a cannoli. These small gestures were just part of his warm kindness.
All who knew Maurice know of his generous demeanor and kind-heartedness. Over the years, Maurice and I fought side by side and sometimes against one another when it came to politics. But we were always friends at the end of the day, something sorely missing in today’s politics. That’s how I knew we were true friends. Maurice never held a grudge and at the end of the day we always would pick up right back where we left off – laughing as only friends do.
I will truly miss my friend. Maurice, thank you for all you did for the Mile Square City. Your contributions to Hoboken, to the Democratic Party that you so fervently loved and to Hudson County will long live on, as will your memory.
To quote the famous Irish Blessing, “May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hands.’
Very truly yours,
George A. Ortiz