JFK+50: Volume 6, No. 1856
JOHN FRANCIS FITZGERALD BORN 153 YEARS AGOBoston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) 153 years ago today, February 11, 1863, John Francis Fitzgerald, the maternal grandfather of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born here in Boston.
John Francis's parents were Thomas Fitzgerald of County Limerick and Rose Anna Cox of County Cavan, Ireland. John F. Fitzgerald was educated at the Boston Latin School and Boston College. He served twice as mayor of Boston and was elected to the United States Congress.
"Honey Fitz", as he came to be known, was a natural politician who loved people and loved to sing "Sweet Adeline".
At the age of 85, he advised his grandson, John F. Kennedy, who was running for Congress in 1946. Honey Fitz predicted JFK would one day be President of the United States.
John F. Fitzgerald died at the age of 87 on October 2, 1950. Mr. Fitzgerald left an estate of $76,000 according to his will filed in Suffolk probate court on December 8, 1950. The Fitzgerald estate was to be divided between his widow, Mary Fitzgerald, and sons John Jr. and Tom.
The mayor's daughter and JFK's mother Rose Kennedy was designated as the executrix. Rose, however, was left "no part of the estate" for reasons "best known" to her father.
While Mr. Fitzgerald had lived long enough to see his grandson Jack elected to Congress, he had passed by the time JFK was elected to the United States Senate and the Presidency.
When John Fitzgerald Kennedy became the 35th President of the United States, he chose to be sworn in on the Fitzgerald Family Bible and he would rename the presidential yacht, the "Honey Fitz."
SOURCE
"The Kennedys: A Chronological History" by Harvey Rachlin, World Almanac, 1986.
