Brady Michale Fitzsimmons

1941 - 2025

The Honorable Brady Michale Fitzsimmons, retired Judge of the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals, passed away peacefully at home on April 14, 2025, surrounded by family. He was 83.

Born in New Orleans on July 17, 1941, to Huyet Walter Fitzsimmons and Henrietta Mae Truxillo in New Orleans, Brady began college at Marquette University in Milwaukee, graduating from Spring Hill College in Mobile. A devout Catholic, Brady's education centered on 8 years of education provided by the Jesuits. He received his Masters from LSU and his Juris Doctor from Loyola, New Orleans. His early years were spent in New Orleans, Knoxville, TN and Mobile, Alabama. He maintained contact through the years with lifelong friends from St. Catherine of Sienna and McGill Institute in Mobile.

In 1969, Brady married A. Geraldine Mannion. Together, they had 4 beautiful sons: Brendan Dalton Fitzsimmons (d. 2022)(Katie Groh) grandchildren Barbara, Dalton; Ian Huyet Fitzsimmons (Katherine), granddaughters Maren and Rowan; Cavan Michael Aherne Fitzsimmons (April) granddaughters Brayden and Callan; and Devin Patrick Fitzsimmons (Kate) grandchildren Liam and Nora.

Brady began his professional career as a college English instructor. Upon completing his law degree, following private practice, he began his distinguished legal career that would span nearly four decades serving as a public defender and assistant district attorney. In 1988, Brady became a District Judge in St. Tammany Parish. Subsequently, in 1995 he was elected to the First Circuit Court of Appeals where he served until 2005.

Brady remarried in 2000 to Margaret Katherine Jackson. They retired to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida in 2015. Brady continued to serve with integrity, fairness, and a deep commitment to justice at the request of the Louisiana Supreme Court on a number of key matters until 2023.

Brady was a lifelong student of literature, he enjoyed family, travel and art. In retirement, Brady and Katherine spent 20 years of wonderful summers in Montana making lifelong friends. He was predeceased by his parents, younger brother, William "Billy" Patrick Fitzsimmons and his eldest son, Brendan. He is also survived by 3 stepchildren, Virginia Ruth, Patrick and Paul J. Gregory.

He will be sorely missed and remembered for his faith, his love of family, appreciation of friends and his passion for the law as a devoted public servant. He was known not only for his sharp legal mind but also for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the dignity of every individual who entered the courtroom over which he presided. He referred to his judicial service as "toiling the in the vineyards of justice."

A memorial service will be held at their home parish, St. Rita Catholic Church on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 2:00pm in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. A Memorial Mass and reception will be held at St. Joseph Abbey located at 75376 River Rd. St. Benedict, LA on June 23, 2025 with a 1:00pm visitation, Mass at 2:00pm and a reception at the Abbey Retreat Center to follow. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Judge Fitzsimmons' honor to the following charity: Tunnel to Towers, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 or donationsupport@t2t.org.

To share memories, express condolences, and sign the online guestbook, please visit www.daviswatkins.com.