Obituary of John W. Gerrity, Jr.
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Olean - John W. "Big John" Gerrity, Jr. "Loving Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather"
John W. Gerrity, Jr. of 124 East Forest Avenue, passed away on Tuesday, January 1, 2019, at his home.
John W. Gerrity was born on Feb. 22, 1949 in Providence, RI and was the son of John W. Gerrity, Sr and Dora E. Annis. He was formerly married to Paula Putzke.
John earned his Bachelor's Degree from Houghton College. He served in the Air Force for 6 years, from Jan. 24, 1973 to Jan. 23, 1979 and was nominated to West Point by Senator, Robert F. Kennedy. John worked as a senior technician at McGraw Edison-Cooper Power System-Eaton in Olean for 40 years. He actively played Santa Claus in the community for 25 years. John was a member of the St. Stephen's Club, where he was a past President and He was formerly a member of the Enchanted Mountains Masonic Lodge #252.
John is survived by; 4 children, John (Molly) Gerrity of Greenwood, SC, Ryan Gerrity of Olean, NY, Megan Gerrity of Buffalo, NY, and Kelly (Chris) Gerrity of Olean, NY; 2 granddaughters; 5 grandsons; 1 great granddaughter; 1 great grandson; 1 grand kitty & grand puppy; and 5 siblings, Patricia Gerrity of Dartmouth Cape Cod, MA, Michael (Liz) Gerrity of Sylvania, OH, Eva (Joe) Naber of Perrysburg, NY, Dolly Gerrity of Lackawanna, NY, and Kate Gerrity-Donahue of Olean, NY; 7 nieces, 5 nephews; and several great nieces and great nephews.
John was predeceased by his father, John W. Gerrity, Sr. on March 30, 1984, his mother, Dora E. Annis-Gerrity on August 17, 1996, and a brother Greg "Bill" Gerrity on June 7, 2010.
Friends will be received at the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 E. State Street, Olean, today, Jan. 4, 2019 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and again on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 starting with a prayer service at the Funeral Home at 10:30 am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels at 11:00 am. Burial will be in Mt. View Cemetery Olean. Full military honors will be accorded by the Allegany American Legion Charles Harbel Post #892.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made the Toys for Tots program, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in care of the Olean, NY Branch, Gift Processing Administrator, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172. Online condolences may be made at www.LetroMcIntoshSpinkFuneralHome.com.
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