Steven FITZGERALD Obituary

Dear Aylene
So very very sad to hear of the loss of your soulmate Steve. Steve was such a lovely kind and happy man, who loved his family.
He absolutely adored you.
Thinking of you,
Love from Christine and Neil xxx

Dear Aylene,
We were so shocked to hear of the loss of your beloved husband , Steven.
May it be of some comfort to know others are thinking of you with much love at this very sad time.

Steve...so sorry to hear that you've gone.
We've not met up in years, but I often think of you if I'm back in Welham Green, or at the Cock o the North, or see an old Kawasaki or hear Status Quo...all symbolic with our younger years.
You were a great mate when we were growing up, walking your dogs Matey and Emma over the fields, building dams in the local stream and coming home covered in mud...Long before our folks had decent washing machines too..
We spent endless trips trainspotting in London..you always went half price because Harry was a signalman..but as you were older, you looked after me on those trips. We always got there and back safely. As we grew older our love went from trains to motorbikes, we used to go the the shows at Earls Court and in Victoria, we sat on all the bikes and dreamed about what we couldn't afford...
I remember the first day you came home with your new Kawasaki KH250..a totally bonkers bike, but then that was your dream...go as fast as you could possibly go and still on L plates...
You rode it safely enough though and took me on the back to Brands Hatch to watch the Easter races in April 78. I recall the Triumph 250 i was rebuilding, you took it on its first test run in Skimpans (you said as you were older you would be more suited), anyway it caught fire halfway down the street, and you stopped and run off...I think i was angry at the time, but soon forgave you and we laughed about that for years. In the summer of 79 we all rode down to Frinton for a holiday. You took Graham on the back and I rode my Honda, plus Phil on his Yamaha and Dave on his Honda. What a great week that was..on the beach, at the fair, in the pub..Life was just a great adventure without much responsibility..
In 1980 we formed our first Darts Team at the Cock, what great nights those were, getting drunk and having fun. Perfect training for the Sunday football league we also entered...all usually playing with hangovers...no wonder we didn't win many games, but it was a great time. And not forgetting the music, you were a Quo fan to the core, but I persuaded you to see the Kinks in St Albans , Feb 79 and you loved it. We went to see them again a few times in London, with Phil, Si and Phil D. What great concerts, charging about in the crowd, a few more beers and feeling totally knackered by the end...the joys of youth.
And of course there was Barnet. Jules would often drive us to away games in his old Mk 2 Cortina. I remember going down to Brighton for the FA Cup replay, we lost, but what a day. And the trip to Barrow, we were on the train, and then some of the squad appeared in our carriage and had a chat with us, and having a beer with them after a match at Weymouth..the players were a different breed in those days, just like us only slightly better footballers..
I can't recall the last time we were together, it would have been in a pub or at football in the mid 80s I guess. We were both moving out of the area, and found new lives and responsibilities like work and mortgages..no fun there...
I missed our friendship and wished we could have met up again, but sadly it didn't happen.
But I will say, you were a great friend in the right place at the right time. You were like a big brother for many of those years, helping to guide me and keep me safe. So thanks for being there and making my life more colourful and more fun. Best wishes to all your family...and maybe we'll meet again some day on the other side...
Neill.

Steve, you will always be missed! Things will never be the same at Acorn Street.......we will keep "A"safe, till you meet again. Ride free Zippy!!
Jojo, Cliff & Saxon

Our most sincerest & heartfelt sympathies Aylene on your very sad news. We feel very honoured to have been included in Steve's photo montage so thank you. Take care. Love Owen & Margaret xoxo

I will forever think of you Zippy. Once I´m older and a paramedic I´ll still come and bug you when i can. We will forever miss you. Losing you is truly a great loss to the world. Love you Zippy. Goodbye

Such a sad time for Aylene and the family, Zippy will be deeply missed by all those that had the privilege to know him. We cant tell you how grateful we all are we got to spend that time with you last year. Zippy will forever be in our thoughts and will always be a part of our lives.
So sorry not to be able to be there but we will be raising a toast to honour his memory.
Farewell Zippy

Uncle,
I can´t believe you´re gone.
I keep thinking I´ll hear your voice, see your name pop up on my phone, or feel your arms around me, reminding me that everything´s going to be okay.
But you´re not here. And it´s not okay.

You weren´t just my uncle - you were my shield.
You were the one who stood by me when life got hard. You protected me from pain, and you saw me when I felt invisible.
You loved me endlessly

You were my safe place.
My uncle who always had my back.
My rock. My laughter. My comfort.

Every part of my life has you in it -
In my memories, my voice, the way I stand up for myself because you taught me how.
You never made me feel like I was too much, or not enough.
You made me feel like I mattered.

Now the world feels colder. Quieter without you.

I would give anything just to hug you one more time.
To hear you call my name the way only you could.
To fall into your arms and cry the way I am now - and know you´d catch me.

Thank you for being my Uncle!
Thank you for showing me what love really is.

I promise, Uncle, I will carry your love with me, always.
You were my heart.
And now it´s broken

Moe mai ra, e taku matua tupuna, taku rangatira, taku manawa.
Haere ki tua o te arai, ki o matua tipuna.
Ka tangi te ngakau, ka mimiti te puna roimata.
Aroha mutunga kore ki a koe Uncle
Ma te aroha koe e arahi i ahau i nga ra kei mua.
Ka mahara tonu au ki a koe i nga wa katoa.


Love you always Uncle
Tiki

Our deepest sympathies and love we send to you at this incredibly heart breaking time Aylene and family.A wonderful man ,his love for you Aylene shone in his eyes .Lots of love Correen and Bruce Tilby.

Dear Aylene
What a tragic time for you,and your familys.Our Special thoughts are with you at this time.Arohanui
Rangi and David

We are both shocked to read about Steve - sincere condolences to family & friends

A great guy and former workmate. We'll miss our get-togethers at the Rose & Shamrock. Rest in peace my friend.

Known to us as Zippy because your lips were never closed - always talking and having fun...the types of fun and adventures that were always great to remember and have a smile about, but now I remember the same things and cry - not because they will ever be sad, but because you are no longer here to share them with. You brightened everyone's lives who you met and the world is going to be a darker place without you. Thank you for coming into my life and for the joy you brought with you. Now you are going to brighten heaven in only the way you can. Going to miss you so much Zippy, bless you and thank you.

Christmas bbqs always included being well fed and cocktails from Steve.. this will be missed along with his beautiful smile and kind heart. All our love Viv & Mark

Devastated to hear of the news Aylene. He was a ton of fun around the track. That time we had at the Supercars was awesome. Thoughts with you and your family at this time

He was and will always will be our amazing friend our hearts are broken Annamarie,Arthur,and family

Sharing condolences to Aylene and all of Steve's whanau. No words can comfort at this time but please know he nui te aroha Aylene.

FITZGERALD, Steven John. Remembering Steven John FitzGerald. Born 13 September 1959 but died suddenly on 10 May 2025 in Auckland, aged 65. He was loved by his family, mum Edna Shepherd, sister Carole Clay and wife Aylene and friends in both New Zealand and UK. Will be sadly missed.

FITZGERALD, Steven John. Tragically taken on Saturday 10th of May 2025. Dearly loved husband of Aylene, treasured son in-law of Roy and Kate Brenchley, brother in-law, uncle and great mate to our family and friends.