Posted on 04/30/2018
Gerard Cornelius Reidy Sr. Basketball enthusiast traveled the globe for successful career in the textile industry Mr. Gerard Cornelius Reidy Sr. passed away on Thursday, April 26, 2018, surrounded by family at his home in Scotch Plains, N.J. He was 80 years old. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, at the Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Ave., Westfield, N.J. The Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Helen's Church in Westfield. Born in Queens, N.Y., to Jerome and Lillian Reidy in 1938, Jerry grew up in the Parkchester neighborhood in the Bronx, N.Y. Formerly a resident of Jersey City, N.J., and Roselle Park, N.J., he lived in Westfield, N.J., for more than 40 years before moving to Scotch Plains in 2012. Mr. Reidy served his country in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Forrestal, where he fostered a passion for world travel and basketball. Jerry went on to attend Seton Hall, where he continued to play basketball, and earned his degree in English in 1964. Mr. Reidy had a long and successful career in the textile industry, his work taking him all over the world. He traveled to all but one continent, well over 100 countries, and sometimes eight states in a day. An avid fan of all sports, Jerry was especially fond of the Big East Conference, though he was never happier than when attending one of his grandchildren's events. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Eileen Reidy; their children, Gerard Reidy Jr. (Medea), Nicole Murphy (Mike), and Alexis Reidy Peterson (Jon); his beloved grandchildren, Alexis, Veronica, Rita, Marisa, Jack, and Luke, and his beloved nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jerry's name to the Wounded Warriors Project at woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.
Published in Star-Ledger on Apr. 29, 2018