Sunday, February 15, 2026
A few years ago, I remember sitting with Gerry and telling him, “You weren’t lucky enough to be born into this family, you earned your way in.” As I reflect on my lifelong interactions with him, I know I was right when I said that.
When my Dad became incapacitated and wheelchair bound it was Gerry who went out and bought a van so my Dad could still join family gatherings that were so important to us all. Helen and Gerry would pick Mom and Dad up in that van and bring him to Dan’s for every holiday party and barbeque. My nieces and nephews would line up to greet their Grandparents and help get Dad from the van into the house to join the party. When the party ended it was the reverse, grandkids walking Mom to the car, a group effort to support Dad, Helen and Gerry bringing Mom and Dad home. It wasn’t me, Dad’s namesake, who did that, it was Gerry, once again showing the love to my Mom and Dad who over the years had become his own Mom and Dad. It was also hands on learning for those grandkids on how to pull together as a family in difficult times.
I’ve heard lots of talk about how Gerry loved to fish and how he shared that love with his family whenever we visited his home, but I have a different take, it wasn’t so much about the fishing but about the connections that developed while we fished. Whether it was me proudly displaying my three-inch sunny or Gerry helping Sam and Cassie bait their hooks it was together time that bonded him to us all. As I watched a line of my nieces and nephews stand up to speak about Gerry, I recognized how effective that fishing time meant to us all.
When there was trouble Gerry was usually first on the scene and last to leave. I can recall one Thanksgiving Dad was walking the family dog and came upon some guys relieving themselves by the park, Dad confronted them and there were some harsh words, when Dan, Harry, myself and Gerry who was every bit of 6’3” and 240 pounds came piling out of the house, the guys took one look and just ran away. Gerry could be intimidating back then! It wasn’t just about being big, he was caring, after Dan passed away Gerry consistently stayed in touch with Nancy to support her in those troubling times, Michelle gets sick, there’s Gerry driving her to doctor visits, when my own life journey got rocky, there was Gerry on the phone showing the love and support he gave to us all.
So that’s my story of life with Gerry, a guy I was lucky to have come into my life and for 50 years to show my family and I that he loved us all and we loved him right back.