October 3, 2011 

CAPE VINCENT, N.Y.  —  Marie Dezengremel Fitzgerald, 96, of Cape Vincent died Friday, Sept. 30.

Born June 12, 1915, to the late Alfred L. and Melrose Spafford Dezengremel, she was a lifelong resident of Cape Vincent. 

Marie graduated from Cape Vincent High School in 1933 as salutatorian of her class (the principal’s daughter was valedictorian :). She went on to major in music at the University of Minnesota, where she played violin in the Collegium Musician, a select group of musicians who toured throughout Minnesota. Upon graduation, she taught music at Philadelphia NY, where she organized the first school band. In 1940, she was asked by J. Donald Youmans, principal of Cape Vincent High School, to organize the first band there. Because there was no room for rehearsals at the school, Marie held them in the fire hall. In later years, Marie taught kindergarten at Clayton, retiring in 1980.

Marie married the late J. Russell Fitzgerald on Aug. 2, 1939. Mr. Fitzgerald operated the Red & White Store in Cape Vincent, and built and operated the Anchor Motel and the Anchor Marina. In addition, Mr. Fitzgerald served as Cape Vincent Town Supervisor for many years. He died in 1967.

Marie was very active in St. John’s Episcopal Church, serving as Sunday school teacher, choir director, director and treasurer of the Altar Guild, and member of the Ladies Guild. Her mother, Melrose (Spafford) Dezengremel, was choir director at St. John’s for many years before her daughter.

Active in civic affairs also, Marie was a charter member of the Tibbetts Lighthouse Society, and a long-time member of the Improvement League and the Friends of the Library. In addition, she served as a volunteer for several local organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Museum, and the Cape Vincent Elementary School. Marie also served as a volunteer in Watertown at both the House of the Good Samaritan and the Sci-Tech Center.

In 1932, Marie attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, IL, at which FDR was nominated for President, and in 1941 was the first woman to be elected to a town office in Cape Vincent, defeating Gerald Slade for the office of Town Clerk. In 1934, she attended the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, NY.

Marie was chosen Citizen of the Year by the Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce in 1995, and more recently was feted by the Improvement League and the Honorable Daryl Aubertine for her long service to the town she loved so much.

Surviving are three sons, Michael, Tampa, Fla., Thomas (and Laurie), North Kingstown, R.I., and Joseph (and Joy), Liverpool; 10 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. 

A fourth son, Terry, survived by his wife, Carolyn, predeceased his mother in May 2010.

Calling hours will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at the Cleveland Funeral Home, 188 W. Broadway, Cape Vincent. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct, 8, at St. John’s Church followed by a burial service in Riverside Cemetery. Following the service, all friends and fans of Marie are invited to the St. John’s parish hall for a light lunch. 

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, Cape Vincent, or to the Tibbett’s Point Lighthouse Society.

Information provided by Cleveland Funeral Home, Inc. and Newzjunky.com, Watertown