WILMINGTON — Gerald Addison “Gerry” Curtin Sr., 83, died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, after a long illness.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Linda M. Curtin; daughter, Pamela Curtin; son, Gerald Jr.; daughter-in-law, Alicia Brabazon; and grandchildren, Addison, Tara, Lucy and Christopher. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Carol Morcom-Harneis, Jane Curtin and Jack Curtin.
Gerry was born Nov. 8, 1936, in Manhattan and spent his formative years in Richmond Hill, Queens, with his family and his first cousins. He attended St. Francis Prep and St. Francis College in Brooklyn and remained a faithful and loyal alumnus of the University.
Gerry’s career took him around the globe. In his early years, he worked as a contractor on the Polaris Missile program, the Navy’s first submarine-launched ballistic missile. He then spent several years working as a contractor supporting military radar systems, and was stationed in Nome, Alaska; Greenland; and Scarborough, England.
He returned to the United States and worked in several jobs before being hired by Manufacturers Hanover Bank, where he helped develop systems and software used to transfer funds between financial institutions. He remained in the position when Manufactures was taken over by Chase Manhattan and retired after 20 years total with the banks. Working in funds transfer, he traveled regularly, including lengthy annual trips to Asia and Europe.
Gerry learned to ski while working overseas, and became an avid skier. He and Linda were both members of the Sperry Ski Club on Long Island, New York, where they met and were active club members for over 50 years.
He spent many years involved with the Boy Scouts of America, serving as a scoutmaster with Gerald’s troop in Mahwah, New Jersey, including up to the time Gerald became an Eagle Scout, and continued serving at the troop and Bergen County council level for many years. He was awarded the Boy Scouts Silver Beaver Award, which recognizes adult volunteers for exceptional service to scouting.
When he moved to St. James in 2001, Gerry learned to play golf; he loved the game and the friends he made.
Family was the center of Gerry’s world – his wife, children and grandchildren, his siblings and their families and his large family of Curtin cousins. Gerry was also close with his Kuchler, Lyons, Donohue, Sylvester and Cahill cousins. He also enjoyed the genealogy of the Curtin family and tracing their extended roots, and even attended several gatherings of Clan Curtin featuring Curtins from around the world.
Outside of his family, one of his proudest achievements was the endowment of a Curtin Scholarship at St. Francis College. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Francis College, Gerald Curtin Scholarship, 180 Remsen St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please indicate “Gerald Curtin Scholarship” in the memo line.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 22, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Southport. Those wishing to attend must reserve a place by visiting Sacred Heart Catholic Church or by calling the church at 910-457-6173 to preregister. A burial and celebration of life will take place in New York at a future date.
Share online condolences with the family at Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service.
