Louis Jean Marie Fitamant

Louis Jean Marie Fitamant was born and raised in Chateauneuf-du-Faou, France by his parents Jean Francois Louis Fitamant and Louise Marie Fitamant.  His childhood was largely shaped by the events of World War II.  Having lost his mother at 12 years old, his aunts (who were nuns) became his secondary caretaker, by the request of his dying mother.  During the war many women who belonged to different charitable societies around the world would sponsor children affected by the war.   A wealthy American woman became the sponsor of children in Louis’ hometown.  She was known to the children as the “Godmother of War.”  She lived in New York State, spoke French and would send shoes, clothes and sweets to Louis and the other children. More than 30 years later, in 1976, Louis traveled to New York State with his sister, to meet for the first time, their adopted “Godmother”, who helped them through this difficult period.

His uncle Yves Palo, a catholic priest who also watched over Louis, wanted to ensure his nephew was brought up with a good education and a strong religious background.  He sent him to St. Jean Bosco Seminary, a school for boys, at Coat-an-doc’h, where he lived for the next six years.  During his time there, he was part of the choir and traveled throughout France singing at many famous places such as Lourdes and Notre Dame de Paris.  While at St. Jean Bosco he successfully achieved two baccalaureate certificates.  He was strongly considering becoming a priest upon his graduation at St. Jean Bosco Seminary, but ultimately took a different path.

It was very difficult to find a job after the war in France, so after graduation, he traveled to America in 1952 and stayed with his uncle in Lodi New Jersey and was immediately employed by Hoffmann-la Roche. Within days of his arrival in America, the American government notified Louis and told him if he wanted to stay in America, he would have to join the Army.  At first, Louis declined, but once his visa was up, he had no choice and joined the Army with the provision that they give him American citizenship, which he was granted on April 30, 1954, a day he was very proud of.

On July 14, 1956, Louis met Simone Cau, at a French dance, at the Statler Hotel in New York City.  It was love at first sight. Three months later they were engaged and four months following that they were wed.  Louis and Simone were blessed to celebrate 62 anniversaries together.  They first settled in North Arlington, NJ before buying their home in Wayne, in 1964.  They raised their 4 children in Wayne and enjoyed spending their summers in the Catskills and Kerlouan, France.  Louis loved gardening, tennis, singing, and paying the harmonica and Bombarde.  He enjoyed hunting, both small and big game, and spent many weekends fishing on the Esopus Creek near his home in the Catskills.  Even his trips to the Jersey shore were not complete without fishing or crabbing.  He shared his passion for mathematics and crossword puzzles with his children and grandchildren.  His eight grandchildren were his pride and joy.  Louis was a devout Catholic and practiced his religious faith throughout the years at Holy Spirit Church in Pequannock, where he was a Parishioner.

Louis is survived by his wife Simone (nee Cau) of Wayne, daughter Lisette O’Sullivan and her husband Keith and children Conor and Kelly, of Wayne, three sons; Richard, his wife Mary, and children Eric and Marie Madeleine Louise of Toms River, Gerard, his wife Christine and children Corinne and Nicole, of Pompton Plains, and Louis Noel, his wife Lori and children Elizabeth and Aidan of Highland Lakes.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association.  The donation can be made through their website at act.alz.org.