Jimmy Fitzmorris: A uniter who always sought the common good

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

Weighed down by the polarization that has infected so much of American politics, those attending the July 7 Funeral Mass for Jimmy Fitzmorris, a former New Orleans city councilman who also served eight years as Louisiana lieutenant governor, probably felt as though they had been transported to a long-forgotten, fairy-tale world.

In words of remembrance from family and friends and in Archbishop Gregory Aymond’s homily, story after story emerged of a Louisiana politician, whose calling card was amity and finding common ground.

Who ever would have thought that was possible in politics?

“In his political goals for the city and state, he showed deep respect for the people,” Archbishop Aymond said of Fitzmorris, who died June 30 at the age of 99. “He tried to unite them. His vision was to encourage respect for others, regardless of race or ethnicity. He wanted this to be a better world.”

Maybe Fitzmorris learned about serving others from his late parents. When he was a mere tyke growing up across the street from St. Matthias Church in New Orleans, his mother could look out the window and see the school bus coming.

The school bus wasn't coming to pick up Jimmy or his two siblings. When the bus stopped, 15 Dominican nuns emerged and walked into the Fitzmorris home for breakfast.

"Every day, five days a week, my darling mother prepared breakfast and lunch for the Dominican sisters," Fitzmorris said in a 2009 interview with the Clarion Herald. “In those days, nuns could not be seen eating in front of anybody, and there was no private cafeteria for them. My mother used to send my sister, brother and me downstairs so that the nuns could eat. We had a great big back porch, and she'd cook them red beans and rice, corned beef and cabbage, and spaghetti and meatballs. She had a great love affair with those nuns."

His mother's legacy of helping women religious in ways both big and small was a guiding force in Fitzmorris' business and political life. 

For more than 60 years – since 1949 when he was a young railroad executive – Fitzmorris inducted the members of Mount Carmel Academy's incoming student council. He also served on the school's board of directors and lent his name and energy to fund-raising drives for the green "miracle grow" fertilizer – cold cash – that caused several buildings to sprout from the ground.

Fitzmorris got roped into Mount Carmel Academy the old-fashioned way: a nun – Sister of Mount Carmel Mary Grace Danos – wielded the lasso.

"She asked me to serve, and I just fell in love with the place," Fitzmorris recalled.

Six decades later, Fitzmorris, who served for 12 years on the New Orleans City Council (1954-66) and for eight years as Louisiana's lieutenant governor (1972-80), was known as "Mr. Mount Carmel," a title given him by the current president and principal, Sister of Mount Carmel Camille Anne Campbell.

Sometimes, Fitzmorris’ help came in small things – negotiating the city's bureaucratic maze to fix pipes broken by tree roots or to restore electricity after a storm.

"When I couldn't get anybody to come out, I could call him up and he got on the phone and got it done," Sister Camille Anne recalled.

In 2009, Fitzmorris had the privilege of inducting his two granddaughters – Maddy and Meredith Clement – as eighth-grade members of the student council. At their grandfather’s funeral on July 7, the sisters related personal stories about his love.

“One year for Halloween, I wanted to be Cinderella,” Maddy Clement said, “and he dressed up like Prince Charming.”

She quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson’s definition of success, which perfectly suited her grandfather, whom she knew as “Honey”: “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.”

Holding up a monogrammed sofa pillow, Meredith Clement said the words of Henry Chester also described her grandfather: “Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence. It is no more or no less than faith in action.”

Fitzmorris always was enthralled by the faith displayed by the Mount Carmel Sisters. He recalled Sister Mary Grace was unwavering in her belief that God would provide.

 "Her most astounding characteristic was her tremendous devotion and feeling that with the Lord on your side, you could do anything," Fitzmorris said. "Before a meeting on a Wednesday night, she told me she needed to pay a note for $125,000 by Friday. I said, 'Which Friday?' and she said, 'This Friday.' Some way or another, she got the $125,000.''

Fitzmorris always had a way of winning battles by influencing people behind the scenes. When powerful grocer John Schwegmann – "God bless his soul" – was telling people the Superdome would never be built, Fitzmorris went behind him and said, "I look forward to the grand opening.''

"The key to working with people is to have a love for people and be able to reach out and touch people and bring them together," Fitzmorris said. "It's not only my opinion but your opinion. Let's see if we can work it out together.''

One of Fitzmorris' all-time memories was when he had lunch with Archbishop Philip Hannan and Bing Crosby in the mid-1970s on the day the crooner was to perform at an archdiocesan fund-raiser.

"There were about eight of us in the archbishop's dining room," Fitzmorris said. "Bing got up and sang 'White Christmas.' That was one of the most thrilling experiences in the world."

Until his health began to fail, Fitzmorris attended daily Mass at St. Patrick Church on Camp Street and was an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at St. Pius X. He attributed his energy and longevity to "the wonderful blessings of the Lord.'' He rebounded from a serious melanoma in 2002 and “tried to show my appreciation by working and doing for others.''

As for the city he loved, Fitzmorris remained hopeful even after Katrina.

"You've got to understand, there are two kinds of people in the world – the leaders and the followers," he said. "You've got to develop leaders in order to get the followers to understand the message.''

[email protected]