John J. "Jack" Fitzsimmons

John J. “Jack” Fitzsimmons, 92, of Tequesta, Florida, and Saratoga Springs, New York, passed away on November 2, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, just eight days shy of his 93rd birthday.

Born on November 10, 1933, in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, surrounded by a large extended family, Jack was the youngest of six children of John and May Fitzsimmons. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1956 and served in the United States Army (1956-58) and in the Army Reserves through 1962.

Horse racing was part of Jack’s life from his earliest years. He spent many childhood summers surrounded by family members at Lake Desolation near Saratoga Springs, NY, where he closely followed his grandfather’s career, legendary Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer James E. “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, who trained two Triple Crown winners, Gallant Fox and Omaha. While working summers at Saratoga Race Course during his college years, Jack developed a lifelong passion for the sport.

It was at Saratoga Race Course in the summer of 1959 that Jack met the love of his life, Saratoga native Mary Burke. They married in August 1960, beginning a marriage that lasted nearly 65 years until Mary’s passing in June 2025.

After they married, Jack and Mary moved to the Washington, D.C. area, where Jack earned his law degree and began a 28-year career working for State Farm Insurance. They welcomed two children, Therese and David, and eventually settled in Olney, Maryland, where they raised their family.

In 1970, Jack purchased his first racehorse, beginning a passion for owning and training thoroughbreds that would span more than five decades. Alongside his career, he earned his trainer’s license and enjoyed racing horses at tracks throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Following their retirements, Jack and Mary relocated to Tequesta, Florida, and Jack began a second career as a Realtor with Hughes Realty in Jupiter, Fl, where he enjoyed selling homes to snowbirds from the North. He also joined the Jupiter Senior Softball Association, where he contributed to many winning games as a pitcher, including an exciting 14-0 shutout win in the Super Senior Division Championship game in 2017 at 83 y.o., and then helped lead his team to the League Championship in 2018. Jack also promoted the softball association to anyone who might want to join, and was known for the parties he organized for the players and their spouses during the season.

Jack and Mary spent winters in FL for over 30 years, continuing their longstanding tradition of spending summers in the Saratoga Springs area, first at Lake Desolation and later in Saratoga Springs itself.

Above all, family and friends were the center of Jack’s life. During summers at Lake Desolation, he enthusiastically organized cookouts and gatherings that brought generations of relatives and friends together. Mary affectionately referred to him as the family’s “camp director,” a role he seemed born to play. Jack also had a seemingly endless supply of jokes and never missed an opportunity to share a few. For Jack, few things brought greater happiness than having family and friends together, sharing stories and laughter.

In 2012, Jack founded Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons Racing, a Saratoga-based racing partnership named in honor of his grandfather. His vision was to preserve the family’s remarkable racing legacy while introducing new generations of family and friends to the excitement of thoroughbred racing. Over the next 14 years, the partnership welcomed 138 partners, many of whom Jack considered extended family. Known for his integrity and dedication to his partners, Jack remained actively involved in the partnership, researching horses, consulting with fellow horsemen, and teaching newcomers about the sport that he loved through the final days of his life.

Jack was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary; his parents, John and May Fitzsimmons; his brother, James Fitzsimmons (Helena); and his sisters, Kathleen Fitzsimmons, Jean Harder (Joe), and Sister Edyth Fitzsimmons.

He is survived by his sister, Joan Hohmann (the late Robert); his sisters-in-law, Diana Burke and Anne Burke; his daughter, Therese Fitzsimmons (Rich Pascale); and his son, David Fitzsimmons (Erin). He also leaves four grandsons, Jack Fitzsimmons (Trenton Kennedy), Paul Fitzsimmons (Caroline), Joe Fitzsimmons (Laura), and Matt Fitzsimmons; and a great-granddaughter, Josephine Fitzsimmons. Jack is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins throughout the extended Fitzsimmons and Burke families.

The family would like to thank anyone who helped Jack along the way in life, especially those who took the time to call, visit, write, care or pray for Jack in the last year of his life as he declined in health but not spirit.

Relatives and friends may call from 10:00am to 12:00pm, Friday, November 20, 2026 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518-584-5373) followed by a funeral home service at 12:00pm.

Burial with Military Honors will take place that day at 1:30pm at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jack’s name to the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy (nyrtca.org) or to Olde Friends Farm at Cabin Creek (oldfriendsatcabincreek.com).

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com