Janet Bowler Fitzgibbons of Brookline, MA, died peacefully on Thursday, September 10th, 2026 at Grand Oaks Senior Living in Washington, D.C. Born on March 1, 1935, in Hanover, New Hampshire, she was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John P. Bowler. She attended Marymount School in Tarrytown, NY and in 1957 graduated from Smith College with a degree in Government.

Growing up in Hanover, Janet spent winters skiing at Oak Hill and skating on Occum Pond behind her house. In summers, she attended camp at Aloha in Vermont and Cheley Colorado Camp in Estes Park, Colorado. These experiences instilled in her a love for the outdoors. She was known widely for her graceful athleticism, especially on the snow and ice, the water, the tennis court and even her garden.

Following college, Janet made Boston her adopted home. She worked as an administrative assistant to Edward Logue at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, where she became deeply familiar with the city’s urban renewal efforts. Outside of work, Janet loved to travel. She explored countries throughout Europe and the Middle East, returning with gifts for her nieces and nephews. She took ski trips to Aspen, Sun Valley, and the Denver area, where she visited college friends. It was through her friend and Jim’s cousin, John Corcoran, that Janet was introduced to Jim Fitzgibbons on his sailboat in Duxbury.

In 1966, Jim and Janet were married in Hanover, New Hampshire and bought their first house on Beacon Hill. Following the birth of their fourth child they moved to Brookline in 1975 where they lived for the next 40 years. Still, Janet never lost her affection for Boston or the friends she had there. For more than four decades, she met them in the city for monthly lunches, a tradition that reflected her loyalty and the value of friendship.

In Boston and Brookline, Janet spent years supporting her community. In Boston, she was heavily involved in the establishment of the Beacon Hill Nursery School and Hill House Community Center. In Brookline she volunteered at The Baldwin School, which her children attended. She was an elected member of Brookline Town Hall and later served on the Advisory Committee. When most of her children were off to college, she served as a board member of The Brookline Music School in which she was director for two years. In this role she navigated the school’s expansion and lease agreements with the Town of Brookline, calling on her earlier experiences with the BRA.

Among her many talents, Janet was a superb host, welcoming the neighborhood for the annual Christmas gathering, and opening her home to international students at Milton Academy and Dana Hall School. She was a loving grandmother to her growing fleet of grandchildren; she made things for people, from crafts to food, always from scratch. When she had more time, Janet’s gardens grew and she brought the beauty of flowers and plants into her home in every season.

Janet’s love of the outdoors was shared by Jim, and an active life became central to their family. On sailing cruises, she lay under the stars with her children, searching for the Big Dipper. Ski vacations were filled with adventure and challenges. She agreed to a cross country motorhome trip in the summer of 1982 when all her children could read. Janet encouraged them to get outside, try new things, and stay active.

In 2016 Janet was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She accepted this difficult reality with fortitude, and she had a deep pool of family and friends who supported her as her condition advanced. Eventually she moved into memory care in Brookline, and later to Grand Oaks in Washington DC with Jim, where she was closer to family.. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jim, and her sister, Patricia Leggat. She is survived by her four children, Susan (and Mike) Timpano, John (and Christine) Fitzgibbons, Peter (and Shimae) Fitzgibbons, Mike (and Lindsey) Fitzgibbons, eleven grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

A memorial service and brunch will be held on October 10, 2026, at 10am in Brookline at St Lawrence Catholic Church and The Country Club.