MYSTERY MAN OF THE CIA OUR NO. 1 SPY DROPS DEAD PLAYING TENNIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000200060022-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 17, 1999
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: July 24, 1967
• Content Type: NSPR

STATINTL
Approved For Re 3IRIM ID11 K-
NEWS
2 4 JUL 1967
Mystery Man of the CIA
onnionow
Our No. 1 Spy Drops
cad P1aykg Tcis
Desmond FitzGerald, 57, who
headed the Central Intelligence
'Agency's spy operations, died
yesterday of an apparent heart
.attack while playing tennis at
his country home near The
Plains, Va.
Mr. FitzGerald stepped up to
his job as Deputy Director for
Plans at the CIA a year -ago
when Richard Helms moved up
to Director. In the post, Mr.
FitzGerald was considered, one
of the most influential - and
least publicized - Washington
officials.
He had been with the CIA
since 1951 and had served as;
station chief in the Philippines'
,,and in Japan. In 1961, during
the shakeup that followed the
disastrous Bay of Pigs opera-'
tion, he became director of Lat-1
in American operations.
Mr. FitzGerald was bornr int
,New York City, the son of a
stockbroker, and graduated
from Harvard Law School ins
.1935. He joined the New York
law firm of Spence, Hopkins,.
'Walser, Hotchkiss and Angell
two years later and, in 1942, he.
enlisted as a private in the
Army.
CHINA HAND
He was commissioned andl
served In -the China-Burma--India
1theater, often, behind enem
lines? then became a Balers ef&
CPYRGHT
cer for Chinese Infantry. Even.
tually, he became operations of-
ficer for security for the Chinese
Combat Command in Nanking.
When he left the Army in 1946,
he was a major and had been
awarded the Bronze Star with
cluster and the combat infantry.
man's badge. -
Mr. FitzGerald returned to the
New York law firm as a part-
ner, and five years later he re-
signed to join the CIA.
IN TOWN
Besides the ountry home near
The Plains, Mr. Fitzgerald had
a home at 1671 $44h-st nw, is
Georgetown. He is survived by
his wife, Barbara: two daugh.
ters, Frances and Joan; a son,
Desmond Jr.; and s stepdaugh-
ter, Barbara Mary Lawrence.
Hearing of Mr. FitzGerald's'
death, CIA Director Richard
Helms said, "In the untimely
death of Desmond FitzGrald, j
the country has lost a profes-
sional intelligence officer of high
integrity special abilities and
uncommon dedication.
"We in the Agency mourn the
passing of a true friend and sa-
lute the memory of a gentleman
unafra
Approved For Release 1999/09/07: CIA-RDP75-00001 R000200060022-6