Former Mich. insurance commissioner dies at 49.

Few were left in the dark when it came to knowing where Michigan's former state Rep. Frank M. Fitzgerald stood on an issue he believed in.

Not content with the status quo, or shy about expressing his opinion during his years in public service--including three as Michigan's insurance commissioner and a member of the NAIC--Fitzgerald often publicly questioned associations and insurers.

Yet, he did it in a way that fostered consensus building rather than alienation, say former colleagues. Fitzgerald died Dec. 9 after an apparent heart attack at New York's LaGuardia Airport. He was 49 and leaves behind his wife, Ruth, his daughter, Ellen, his son, John, and his parents.

To be sure, those who knew him say, Fitzgerald's legacy will be a lasting one.

"He was very thorough in developing his points and would advocate for them very effectively. It's one of the legacies he left," said Frances Wallace, a chief deputy commissioner of the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services who worked with Fitzgerald for many years.

His impact on the state and during his time with the NAIC will be long lasting, Wallace said.