Joseph K. FitzGibbon - Obituary

oseph Kevin FitzGibbon, 69, of Edgewater, MD, passed away on October 17, 2026, following a courageous battle with cancer. Joe was born in Washington, DC, on January 10, 1957, one of five children of the late James R. FitzGibbon and Mildred (Mihm) FitzGibbon. He grew up in Chillum, MD, attending St. John Baptist de la Salle for grade school, Our Lady of Good Counsel and High Point for high school, and later the University of Maryland. Joe was married for 35 years to Tanga (Sexton) FitzGibbon and together they raised their son, Sean, and daughter, Kali, in Bowie and later in Friendship, MD. He was a driven, successful entrepreneur who notably founded and expanded Effective Tariff Management (ETM) from a small startup to a distinguished ocean tariff publishing firm with hundreds of clients. Joe’s family, faith, and Irish heritage were central to his life. Joe’s lifelong love of the water began during childhood summers in Avalon, NJ, where he formed lasting friendships and memories. He later spent decades enjoying the ocean from his condominium in Ocean City, MD, and frequenting his favorite watering hole, Kirby’s Irish Pub. Closer to home, Joe cherished visits to the summer cottage of his Aunt Margie (Miss Marjorie FitzGibbon of Washington, DC) in Chesapeake Beach, family crab feasts, walks along the North Beach boardwalk, and time spent boating, fishing, and crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding rivers. Joe was a loyal Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins) and Nationals fan through every winning and losing season. His love of anything with an engine began with a minibike in grade school and grew to include motorcycles, boats, and cars, most recently his beloved Crystal Red Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. His adventurous spirit also took him behind the wheel of a NASCAR race car and into flying lessons, the latter a meaningful connection to his father, who served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his older brother, James R. FitzGibbon, Jr. (Jim), and is survived by siblings Joan Bauer, Jean Murphy, and Janet Barlow. Family and friends are invited to an Irish Wake to celebrate Joe’s life on Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Annapolis Elks Lodge located at 2 Pythian Drive, Edgewater, MD 21037. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: By check: Annapolis Elks House Committee 2 Pythian Drive Edgewater, MD 21037 (Note: Joe FitzGibbon Memorial Celebration) Online: https://pay.elks622.com/37d1a16c-60ba-45f7-a2c0-1fa (Note: Joe FitzGibbon Memorial Celebration)