The oldest son of Dick and Pat Fitzgerald, Rich was born at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh's Bloomfield neighborhood. He attended St. Lawrence O'Toole grade school and Central Catholic High School. After high school graduation, Fitzgerald attended Carnegie Mellon University. During college, he paid his tuition by driving a cab for Yellow Cab Company as a member of Teamsters Local 258. He graduated in 1981 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering and a business minor. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon, Fitzgerald was unable to find a job in engineering in the region and so moved to Rockford, Illinois to take a job with NALCO Chemical Company as a water treatment chemical sales associate. In the fall of 1982, Fitzgerald returned to Pittsburgh and started a small business which provided water treatment equipment and services for industry in the western Pennsylvania region.
Fitzgerald became the first member for District 11 in January 2000 and held the seat through 2011. From 2004-2011, he served as the President of Council, elected to the position by his colleagues. During his time on County Council, further row office reform was passed which resulted in the electorate eliminating and consolidating a number of offices and saving taxpayer dollars. Additional legislative initiatives included a Homestead Exemption for property owners and the creation of a Human Relations Commission. In 2011, Fitzgerald resigned from County Council to run for the office of County Executive.
Allegheny County Executive
In the May 2011 Democratic Primary, Fitzgerald faced Mark Patrick Flaherty for the nomination. He received 66,387 votes, or 55.24% of the vote, while Flaherty received 52,802, or 43.94% of the vote. In the general election, Fitzgerald faced Republican D. Raja and received 142,109 votes, or 61.67% of the vote. Raja received 86,595 or 37.58% of the vote. Fitzgerald was sworn into office as County Executive on January 3, 2012. Fitzgerald ran for, and won, re-election in November 2015. He was unopposed.
Accomplishments
Public Transit
In January 2012, the Port Authority of Allegheny County announced its intent to cut 30% of routes due to funding shortfalls. Such a reduction could kill transit in the region, so Fitzgerald began working with the Port Authority management and Amalgamated Transit Union to reduce costs while also calling upon legislative leaders and Governor Tom Corbett to work cooperatively to ensure funding could be put in place to keep the Port Authority going. In August 2012, Fitzgerald stood with representatives of the Port Authority, the legislature and Governor Corbett to announce that there would be no cuts. In June 2013, Fitzgerald led a delegation of stakeholders on a visit to Cleveland to see the impact that BRT can have on a community. To date, funding has been allocated for needed studies and planning as Allegheny County, the Port Authority, the City of Pittsburgh and its stakeholders move the project forward.
Personal life
Rich is married to his college sweetheart, Cathy Tomasovich Fitzgerald, a pharmacist. They reside in Squirrel Hill. The couple has eight children: Jocelyn Fitzgerald, M.D., Erin, Caroline, Tanner, Madeline Fitzgerald, M.B.A., Louisa, Mara, and Jackson. All eight of Rich's children attended Penn State University.
