Sister Clare Fitzgerald SSND
September 15, 1924 – January 27, 2025
Clare Fitzgerald, “was born and graced the world,” with her presence on September 15, 2024, “under the scenic and cultural shades of Cambridge, Massachusetts,” as written in her life sketch in 1944. She was the third child, out of six, born to her parents William J. Fitzgerald and Jane (Nolan) Fitzgerald. In her autobiography, Clare noted that she was said to have been, “born talking – a trait which has lingered and developed proportionately in my character until present day.” It seems that those who knew her would agree this trait continued to develop throughout her 100 years.
“At the age of 6,” Clare wrote, “I was condemned to 8 years of prison life at St. Peter’s Parochial School, conducted by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Like the prisoner in the famous adage, I looked through the bars - imaginary ones, I assure you – and saw stars.” Her grammar school days were filled with happiness and enriched by her “particular friendship with books.”
She entered the Notre Dame Juniorate in Fort Lee, New Jersey in September of 1948, “with looks of sheer amazement and doubt from the family.” On August 28, 1942, she entered the candidature and received the bonnet at St. Peter’s Covenant Chapel.
At her funeral, friend Sister Mary Dooley spoke of Clare’s deep love for Mary, the Mother of God and that her knowledge and love increased as she learned more about, “this woman of courage, conviction and commitment.” Upon her entrance to the congregation, she was introduced to another strong woman, our foundress Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger.” This inspired Clare to write her poem, “The SSND Woman,” in which Clare described Mother Theresa, “as a woman of, yet apart from and ahead of her time, who stood for the betterment of the role and status of women in society, for the cries and needs of the poor, a woman who dared to stand for the uncared for.”
Clare professed her first vows on July 31, 1945, supported by her devotion to the Mother of God and Mother Theresa Gerhardinger, and was given the name Sister Mary Nivard. She went on to earn multiple degrees: a Bachelor of Arts degree in US History from the Catholic University of American in 1954, a Master of Arts in 1960, and a Doctor of Philosophy in American Studies from St. Louis University in 1967. While earning her degrees, Clare taught in many elementary and high schools in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Connecticut.
From 1968 to 1977, Clare worked as a full-time professor of history at Fairfield University up until her election to be the Provincial of the Northeastern Province. In 1978, The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) elected her president. From 1981 to 1993, Clare served as a consultant/advisor at Boston College. She was also the Founder and Director of the Catholic School Leadership Program of the Graduate School of Education at Boston College.
Clare devoted many years as a Lecturer and Catholic Education Consultant, beginning in 1994 and continuing up until her recent decline in health. She received numerous awards for her contributions to Catholic education, including the William H. Sadlier Dinger Award for Catholic education and leadership in 1994 and the National Catholic Educational Association’s (NCEA) President’s Award, the C. Albert Koob Merit Award. In 2006, she received another award from NCEA, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for outstanding leadership services enhancing the well-being of the nation’s youth and U.S. Catholic Schools.
In her eulogy, Sister Mary said, “Clare was famous for her theatrics, antics, (doing) whatever she needed to make people sit up and listen.” Many sisters and friends fondly remember her reciting “The Ride of Paul Revere,” or the times she got up on a table, taking off her shoes.
Participants of this year’s Annual Leadership Meeting recounted Clare’s visits during their times on mission in Central America and other parts of the world without electricity or running water. Clare would be the first one to admit that this type of missionary work was not for her; she liked her creature comforts and often brought with her numerous bags of luggage.
In recent years at The Watermark, her dear friend, Sister Anne McCarthy tried to ensure she always had a nice outfit, Starbuck’s coffee and occasionally a chocolate chip cookie to start her day, while others made sure she got a daily copy of the New York Times. Friends and family came together to celebrate her zest for life as she celebrated her 100th birthday on September 15, 2024.
While Clare’s appreciation for the finer things in life might have held her back from what many consider traditional missionary work, Clare was the embodiment of a missionary. She dedicated her life to teaching about Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. While she was not known for being a woman of few words, her main message, with all the flair of her personality, was to tell us that, “Jesus loves you!” even if it took her 45 minutes.
Clare ended the life sketch she wrote in 1944 after two years of training to become an SSND with, “Perhaps the words of St Paul would be used most appropriately here at this stage of my career. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. As for the rest, I can only hope that my future life will be like the ending of all good fairy tales - She lived happily ever after.”
Clare did live happily ever after as she was born into eternal life on January 27, 2025, in Bridgeport, CT. Her wake and Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Andrew Church in Bridgeport on Monday, February 10, 2025. The main celebrant was Monsignor Robert Crofut. Music was contributed by St. Genevieve Valiant Voices choir from Panorama City, California. She was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bethel, Connecticut.
By Lauren Ciotti
