Geraldine Hirsch

Anna Geraldine Fitzgerald Hirsch of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. She was 101.

She was born Aug. 3, 1902, in Warsaw, Mo., daughter of Dr. Michael Montgomery Fitzgerald and Anna May Spangenburg Fitzgerald. She married Oscar Christian Hirsch in 1925.

They were residents of Cape Girar-deau and together founded KFVS Radio in 1925 and KFVS-TV in 1954. Their establishment of the Oscar C. Hirsch Foundation made possible many contributions to the community, including the Hirsch Community Room at the Cape Girardeau Public Library and the Oscar C. Hirsch Chapel at the Salvation Army.

Mr. and Mrs. Hirsch celebrated 67 years of marriage before he preceded her in death in August 1992.

Mrs. Hirsch graduated from Central Missouri State Teachers College in Warrensburg. She taught in Sullivan, Mo., for two years before coming to Cape Girardeau in 1922 to teach English and become head of the Central High School English Department.

Mrs. Hirsch was a member of First Presbyterian Church 77 years and served as president of the Women of the Church and as a member of Potosi Missouri Presbytery Board.

She was a charter member of Chapter FY of P.E.O. Sisterhood and was the chapter's second president. She was a member of Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary, a leader for Cub Scout, Brownie and Girl Scout troops, and district president of Otahki Area Girl Scouts. She was honored with the Girl Scout Thank You Badge.

Mrs. Hirsch was active in the Federated Garden Clubs, and also was a founding member of Creative Arts Guild, member of Quest Club and Kappa Delta Phi Honorary.

Survivors include three children, Robert Oscar Hirsch of The Woodlands, Texas, James Fitzgerald Hirsch and Marjorie Anne Hirsch Deimund of Cape Girardeau. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Dr. Lucile Hirsch of Smithville, Mo., Ellen Hirsch Mantia of Overland Park, Kan., Jeanne Hirsch Lyle of Jacksonville, Fla., Gregory Keith Deimund and Michael Garrett Deimund of Cape Girardeau, Sarah Deimund Smith of Springfield, Mo.; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Her parents; her only sister, Marjorie Luzette Fitzgerald Thompson; and two grandchildren, Christian Robert Hirsch and Margaret Ione Hirsch, preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, with the Revs. Paul Kabo and Ken Moxey officiating. Private family burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.