Obituary of Allan Kress Fitzsimmons

Allan Kress Fitzsimmons, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at his home after a long illness on 29 December. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 2, 1941. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Ruth Ann (Feld) Fitzsimmons; three daughters and their husbands, Erin and Mark Donalson, Kelly and Blake Aaron, and Shannon and Stephen Doolan; and six grandchildren, Caleb, Devrie, and Tanner Donalson, Thomas and Brett Aaron, and Annabelle Claire Doolan. Together they comprise what he liked to call “The Bunny Family,” which was his greatest treasure. He was predeceased by his parents Charles and Dorothy (Kress) Fitzsimmons. Allan received both a bachelor's and a master's degree from San Fernando Valley State College, and a doctorate from University of California, Los Angeles. He held positions as an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky and as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Environmental Studies program at George Washington University. He served in the Federal Government in the Reagan, Bush 41, and Bush 43 administrations providing expertise on a range of Federal Land Management policy issues at both the Departments of Interior and Energy. He authored two books and a number of academic articles on Federal Land Management and National Park policy. Prior to his career in academia and government, he worked as a programmer analyst in the aerospace industry. In his free time, Allan kept physically active. He was an avid runner, weight lifter, and in his later years rowed master’s crew. He coached high school crew, volunteered with hospice, sang in church choirs for 35 years, enjoyed landscaping his domain, and loved to watch hockey and play fantasy hockey. In all aspects of life he engaged his wit and sometimes unique sense of humor to bring a smile to those he met. We will dearly miss him. A funeral mass for Allan will be held on Monday January 9th at 10:00 a.m., at Saint Peter Claver Catholic Church, 2355 Stow Street, Simi Valley, California. Interment will follow at Assumption Catholic Cemetery, 1380 Fitzgerald Road, Simi Valley.