Carrigan J. FitzGerald (Collins), 25, formerly of Essex Junction, Vt., died unexpectedly, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, as a result of drowning while swimming in Fort Lauderdale. He was born in Burlington, Vt. on Aug. 20, 1984, the son of Kathleen FitzGerald and James Collins. He attended Essex High School and in 2007, received a degree in motorcycle technology from Wyo-Tech in Daytona Beach. In 2008, Carrigan began his career in the private aviation industry as an operations manager with Jet Access Group in West Palm Beach. He was loved and appreciated by his colleagues for his authenticity, great sense of humor, enthusiasm, and dedication to his work. This April, he went to work with Sky Limo Air Charter in Ft. Lauderdale, and he continued as a travel charter director. Sincere thanks to Chris, Jack, TJ, and Tom. More than anything else, Carrigan made all those he met and cared about<$>laugh and feel good. He loved being with his family and friends as much as possible, thrived on connections with others and made friends wherever he went. He was kind, loving, witty, playful, generous, tenacious and loyal. He was a beautiful person, inside and out, and one of a kind. Carrigan loved playing with his son, teasing and looking out for his sister and brother, summers camping with family on Cape Cod, big family reunions, poker night with the guys, "rough housing," boating and swimming, travel, fishing, all food (lots of it, with hot sauce), Ghana, movies, dancing and music. Carrigan leaves behind his son, Noah, and the mother of his son, Heather, his beloved mother, step-dad, sister Elizabeth, and brother Brennan. Also, his maternal grandparents, Marion and John FitzGerald, his paternal grandparents, Shirley Collins (deceased) and Robert and Barbara Collins, and Noah's maternal grandmother, Mary. He leaves behind many loving uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends too numerous to mention at this time. He also leaves his loving community of friends in Florida. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Ready Funeral and Cremation Service, Mountain View Chapel, 68 Pinecrest Drive, Essex Junction. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. in Holy Family Church, Lincoln St. (RT 2A), Essex Junction. Friends and family are invited to a gathering in Holy Family Parish Hall immediately following the mass to share memories of Carrigan. If you would like, donations may be made to Carrigan's son's Noah Carrigan Gardner Education Fund, c/o Jack Lambert, 473 SE Seabreeze Lane, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 34983. To send online condolences or for directions, please visit www.readyfuneral.com