Gerald F. Gilrain, 70, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday August 13, 2022 after a lengthy illness.
Known by his friends and family as Jerry, he loved baseball, the Red Sox, traveling the US and Europe, fishing, American history, Naval history, and reading. He could speak to key figures and dates in American and European history with ease.
Jerry was a ham radio operator under the call letters KA1GXE for quite a few years. His collection of postcards from around the world is quite extensive. At times, he used Morse code in his communications for privacy and security.
He graduated from Lynn Classical High School and attended both Northeastern University and Salem State.
Jerry had been employed by Rich’s in Salem for 22 years, Ann & Hope Department Stores in Danvers, Imperial Distributors servicing Stop & Shop stores in Peabody, Lynn, Gloucester, and Medford. He finished his working career at Marshalls in Swampscott.
Jerry is survived by his wife Joyce (Copenhaver), daughter Hannah, sister Katherine Coombs (Walter Jr.), and nieces Shannon (Stephen) Perry, Kelly (Richard) Perrier, Laurel (Dale) Shugart, Holly (Bradley) Lupton, Roxanne (Dustin) Miller, Hailey Toner, and nephew Patrick (Sandra) Coombs, and several grandnieces and grandnephews. Jerry’s parents Francis P. Gilrain and Rita Y. Ricker predeceased him.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan Street Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 or your local animal shelter or ASPCA are encouraged.