Diana "Di" Fitzgerald passed away at the age of 70, on Friday, November 4, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. Di was a 42-year member of the Pensacola community, who would have wanted to be remembered for teaching Math at Pine Forest High School, her lay missionary work in the congregation of St. Mark United Methodist Church, founding the West Florida High School Swim Team, and especially, for being a dedicated community swim coach.

Born and raised in Blue Mound, IL to farmers Dale and Abby Damery, Di left the farm in a big way when she bought a one-way ticket to Guam to follow her high school sweetheart and the man who would become her husband of 48 years, Dave "Fitz" Fitzgerald, who was stationed there. Over the course of Fitz's Naval career, the couple took every opportunity to adventure -from bushwhacking through tropical jungle on exotic South Pacific Islands in search of remote SCUBA diving sites to drinking port wine at bullfights on Friday nights near their home in Andalucía. Despite the difficulties inherent in being a Navy wife, Di managed her own career as a teacher, navigated global travel and life in remote places and raised their three children, Ian, Ryan and Colin with love and patience.

Di had a lifelong passion for swimming and could be found most days at one of the pools in town, either on the pool deck with her Umbro shorts and whistle, coaching kids, or just as often, slowly and steadily ticking off miles in the slow lane. The year her lymphoma became fast growing she gave herself the goal of swimming 1,000 miles. Despite the many aggressive chemo treatments, she completed 1,267. Her small stature and easy smile belied her tenacious resolve and quiet courage.

Di was a steadfast, kind and infinitely patient individual whose loss will forever be felt by her family, friends, and church community.

To honor her memory, in lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions of any size be made to the West Florida High School Swim Team to help provide a young person an opportunity to "leave the farm" in a big way as she did through the sport that gave her so much and which she loved so much. Checks can be written out to West Florida High School Swim Team. The address is 150 E. Burgess Rd, Pensacola FL, 32503.

Visitation will be held 11:00am until a Celebration of Life Service to begin 11:30am Saturday, December 10, 2022, at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 2203 N. 12 ^th Ave., Pensacola, FL. A reception will follow the service, all are welcome.