Bobby Fitzgerald was an avid hiker, runner and active community member who dissapeared in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in 2012. Bobby cultivated deep friendships through decades of involvement at the Staunton Augusta YMCA and was known for his passion for health, connection, and community.

In fact, Bobby's life was so integrated into the YMCA that his absence from the Y was one of the first clues that alerted friends and family that something was wrong — which led to the search efforts across Shenandoah Mountain and western Augusta County. The search continued for years, but Bobby was never found.

Though Bobby’s disappearance remains unsolved, his impact on the YMCA community has only grown stronger over time.

In 2021, longtime friend Joe McCue, Bobby's cousin Pat Yacisin, the YMCA,  and others who were close to Bobby created “Bobby Day,” held annually on April 20 — Bobby’s birthday — as a way to honor his life and keep his spirit alive in the community he loved.

This year, the tradition continues with a road race held in May in his honor as a way to keep Bobby a part of the YMCA community.