Fitzgerald retires from four-decade-long career with state

By BRUCE HOTCHKISS
Senior Editor

NEWARK, Del. — Anne T. Fitzgerald, of Newark, Del ., has wrapped up four decades of work in and for the state of Delaware and says she would not have missed a moment of it.
Fitzgerald, 70, retired on Dec. 31 as chief of community relations, community relations coordinator, and education specialist for the Delaware Department of Agriculture — a post she had held for 17 years.
“Delaware has been a wonderful place to spend the last 40-plus years,” she said. “I am thankful for the opportunities it gave me. It has been an honor, a privilege, and a joy to work in state government and serve.”
A native of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, she was born in Nassawadox, the granddaughter of two Delmarva farmers. She holds a bachelor of science degree in biology from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia.
Following what she described as a “personal tragedy,” she came to moved to Delaware in 1970 to join family that had relocated to Delaware after the father of the family accepted a teaching position in the Colonial School District.
“I am eternally grateful for the strength and support they gave to me,” she said.
Her trek through more than 40 years of experience in public relations, marketing, education, government, and volunteer work, included the following stops:
• Six years with the Delaware General Assembly serving on the staff of the House of Representatives, serving as chief clerk of the House of Representatives (1979), head page of the Senate (1980-81), and secretary of the Joint Finance Committee (1980-81);
• Four years of experience with the Environmental Education Workshop, Delaware State College/University as a volunteer assistant and instructor;
• Five years with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in the Information & Education Office. Responsibilities included: Public information, coastal cleanup coordination, Christina River Cleanup coordination, volunteer programs coordination, and environmental education, 1990-94;
• Formerly, Delaware Program Committee Member for Food Export USA – Northeast as DDA representative. Food Export USA‑Northeast works closely with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service to foster and promote the exports of food and agricultuducts from ten northeastern states;
• Four years of experience with the Environmental Education Workshop, Delaware State College/University as a volunteer assistant and instructor; and
• Past president of the Communication Officers of the State Departments of Agriculture (COSDA), 2003, and a former editor of the COSDA Courier, national newsletter for COSDA, 2001;
In retirement, Fitzgerald said she hopes to travel and to devote more time to her hobby of photography.