Jack Fitzgerald passed away this week.
Jack Fitzgerald (Photo from the Fitzgerald Auto Mall website)
Frederick, Md (KM) The founder of one of the largest auto dealerships in the region has died. Jack Fitzgerald passed away on Tuesday, April 8th. He was around 90 years old, according to his obituary. .
Fitzgerald started off in 1956 as a door-to-door salesman, and then as a salesman for Handley Ford in the Washington DC area which was owned by Vincent Sheehy. .
In 1966- Fitzgerald purchased a stake in Diver Dodge in Bethesda. which is he re-named “Colonial Dodge”: and moved it to Rockville Pike.
His obituary also says Fitzgerald developed a customer-first philosophy which he called the “Fitzway.” It was grounded in transparency, honesty and respect, and there was “no haggle, no hassle” when it came to selling a vehicle to a customer. That person paid the same price as everyone else.
In addition to running his auto dealerships, Fitzgerald was passionate about car seat safety, and educated parents and other caregivers in the proper installation of child safety seats.
Along with that, his obituary says Fitzgerald transferred his company into a 100-percent employee-owned business. “I want to ensure that our employees keep their jobs long after I’m gone, and the Fitzway philosophy continues well into the future,” he said. “There’s just no better way to go.”
Fitzgerald Auto Malls include 20 franchises in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Florida, which employ 1,800 people.. There is a Fitzgerald auto dealership in Frederick off of Baughmans Lane.
Fitzgerald is survived by his sister, his son, daughter, grandson and stepson.
By Kevin McManus