Gerard Olry de Labry, most beloved husband, father, grandfather and
great-grandfather passed away on February 1, one week short of his 88th
birthday.
Born in Spain in 1933 to French parents, Rene Olry de Labry and Odette
de Venancourt de Labry, Gerry was the third of four children. In 1941 the
family fortunately was able to leave Europe for the safety of America. They
settled in Scarsdale, NY, and upon the advice of other French refugees
there, spent summers in Groton Long Point - - safe from the polio epidemic
- -from 1942 on. At the same time, the Sherman Grimes family of Belmont,
MA discovered Groton Long Point in 1944, and Gerry and Geneva Grimes
met there in the summer of 1949.
After graduating from Scarsdale High School in 1951 and Yale in 1955,
Gerry married Geneva at St. Joseph’s Church in Noank and he began a
long career with the Southern New England Telephone Company (1955 -
1991). In Feb. 1956 he was given a two-year leave of absence to fulfill his
ROTC commitment, as an Artillery officer, first at Ft. Sill, OK and then at
Fort Ord, CA.
SNET welcomed him back, and through the years he worked at many
levels and at various offices. Transfers abounded, and for the family (now
with four children: Gerry Jr., Lorraine, Colette and Paul) that meant new
homes, new schools, new friends. No matter where the family moved, they
managed to spend time in GLP in the summer. Rationale: healthy for the
children, and maintaining old friendships. And the bonus? Gerry could
spend so many hours fishing!
He kept careful records of his fishing exploits and filled many journals
over the years, even injecting touches of his great sense of humor. He
would re-read these for his own pleasure over the cold winter months
before the winter of 1971. That was the year he was introduced to skiing!
His life took a turn: skiing was so exhilarating; he could enjoy this outdoor
sport with wife, family and like-minded friends. The best part would be
having the kids and grandkids share the good times on the slopes and later
relaxing in the VT condo by the fire. These days and nights would evoke
many comforting and laughable memories!
Other talents of Gerry’s included gardening and writing a summer fishing
column under the nom de plume Ole Slimey for the GLP News.
First and foremost, Gerry was the loving patriarch, ready to share what
he had earned, what he had learned in life with his large family: wife
Geneva who called him alternately ‘Dad’ and ‘Grampa’; children Gerry Jr.
and wife Lesley, Lorraine and husband Steve Callahan, Colette and
husband John Flint, Paul and wife Suzanne. Grandchildren include
Jennifer, Andrew (Daly), Marc (Emily) and Phillip (Ariana) de Labry, Jack
(Annah Todd) Callahan and Elizabeth Callahan, Declan, Rowan, Ethan
and Adele Sales, Sean and Cody Flint, and Nate, Jacques and Clair de
Labry, and great grandson Brayden de Labry.
He is survived by a brother Jacques Olry de Labry and a sister Alyette de
Labry Sarasin and many nieces and nephews. Gerry was pre-deceased by
infant daughter Chantal Olry de Labry and sister Nicole de Labry
Waterman.
Due to the pandemic, the funeral Mass will be private. Any donations in
memory of Gerry may be sent to St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer
Church, 69 Groton Long Point Rd, Groton CT 06340.
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with his family, please click the link below.