'A Friend To Everyone': Accomplished NJ Teen Mourned After 2nd Battle With Cancer

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Cole Patrick "Fightin'" Fitzgerald, a Washington Township teen with an array of accomplishments despite two bouts with cancer, died Friday. He was 19.

Cole spent his final moments surrounded by family at home, following an 18-month battle with the disease.

His first diagnosis came in early childhood, when he successfully Stage 4 neuroblastoma at age 3. From there, Cole and his family spent considerable time raising funds and awareness for childhood-cancer research, according to his obituary.

Cole's "can-do attitude" amid multiple disabilities helped Cole earn one of the inaugural People's Choice Awards at Bunker Hill Middle School.

He later served as a student assistant coach for Washington Township Youth Football and as a coaching assistant for Washington Township High School. Both football programs established the Cole Fitzgerald Most Inspirational Player Award, his obituary says.

Off the field, Cole was a passionate fan of the Eagles, Phillies and Flyers.

"He knew more about football strategy than any NFL coach and dreamed of one day working full time as a professional coach," his obituary says.

In high school, he served in the Executive Class Council for four years and was inducted into the National Honor Society as a junior. Last year, Cole graduated from high school with cum laude honors.

Cole received a scholarship to attend Temple University, fulfilling his dream of attending a Division I football school. He was hired to the Temple Owls equipment staff as an incoming freshman.

Cole enjoyed the role until August, when he was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatoblastoma — a form of pancreatic cancer. During treatment, he attended Temple full-time and achieved a 3.5 GPA.

"While all his achievements are impressive for such a young man, to know Cole was to love him," his obituary says. "Cole was a friend to everyone he met, and he was always his authentic self. He possessed an incredible sense of humor, loved to banter, and talk about football and WWE/AEW wrestling and was quick to tell others that he loved them."

As his final gift to the fight for a cure, Cole is donating all of his tumor tissue to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Memorial Sloan Kettering.

In accordance with Cole's wishes, a celebration of life will take place this spring — on a date to be published — at Washington Township High School's Tom Brown Field.

"He never complained about why he developed cancer for a second time after his successful battle fought at age 3," his obituary states.

View Cole's full obituary.