David Cameron Gerry
The family of David Cameron Gerry wishes to
honor what would have been his 103rd birthday by sadly but
lovingly sharing his obituary. Born in Topsfield on December 2, 1917 to
the late George A. and Helen E. (Andrews) Gerry, David was educated in the
Topsfield school system, then graduating from Northeastern University,
Class of 1941, where he was an honor student and served as class president
and class marshal of the College of Engineering. While at Northeastern he
also played on the varsity baseball team for three years, and pitched for
the Topsfield town team.
David spent his entire professional
career with the General Electric Company. At the onset of his employment,
he was the first to volunteer to go overseas for GE during World War II,
serving in North Africa, Italy and the Pacific as a GE technical
representative for the U.S. Army Air Corps for two and a half years. Upon
his return, he was employed by GE, primarily in Lynn, but also in various
locations throughout the country, in its small-aircraft-engine department.
Over the years, he was a project manager and district manager of several
helicopter and jet-engine programs, primarily in conjunction with the
Department of Defense. At the time of his retirement, David was once again
contracted out by General Electric for two-plus years, this time to
Canberra, Australia, to collaborate with the Royal Australian Air Force in
the development of their latest fighter jet engine.
Dave, as he was known by many, was
married to Dorothy J. Whipple on September 29, 1944 in Hamilton. Together
they raised their three daughters in Ipswich, enjoying boating down river
from their backyard and perfecting their game at the local family-owned
golf course. He and Dot often entertained Ipswich family friends at their
second home on Ossipee Lake, New Hampshire, where Dave enjoyed skimming
across the water on his Sailfish. An outdoorsman, he also spent many happy
hours hiking the White Mountains and trails with Jim Smyth and skiing at
various northern area slopes with Don Skeffington and Don Whiston, among
numerous other friends and family members. David extended his skiing
ventures to Jackson Hole with his childhood Topsfield friend, Quincy
MacGregor, and Tignes, France, with the group from Ipswich, all avid
skiers like himself. Ever a sports enthusiast, Dave closely followed the
local area high-school sports teams, a few coached by family relatives for
many years, as well as the New England collegiate and professional teams,
notably the Patriots and Red Sox, but most ardently as a lifelong Bruins
fan, Bobby Orr being his favorite player.
Dorothy passed away in 1994, just shy
of their fifty-year wedding anniversary. For the past twenty-four years,
David and his companion, the late Jean Powers, who passed away in February
of 2020, enjoyed their lives together, especially a shared love of skiing,
in which they participated well into her eighties and his nineties, with
the many friends they made at Bretton Woods. Always active, he could be
seen snow-blowing the driveway and tending the lawn on his ride-on mower
also until his late nineties! An avid reader, David started the day with
the daily newspaper, reading it from front to back, and he always had
several books on the table beside his favorite recliner. As well as his
love of dogs and keen interest in cars and cameras, David had a passion
for travel. Establishing and maintaining friendships worldwide and
capturing fabulous scenery globally were always his great joys; touring
the far corners of the earth, especially locating relatives in England and
Northern Ireland and hosting their visits here was a highlight for him.
David is survived by his daughters
Janet Eldridge, Nancy May and Candace Sklarz and her husband, Joseph, as
well as grandchildren Tracy (Eldridge) Maidment and her husband, Bill;
Nathan Sklarz, Zachary Sklarz and his wife, Pakinee; Jessica May and her
husband, Nima; Caitlin (Sklarz) Anderson and her husband, Greg; and
Rebecca May. Survivors also include his great-grandchildren Katie,
Emerson, Molly, Keegan, Alec, Kenzie and Kieran, as well as his nephew, G.
Gerry O’Brien, and niece Anne (O’Brien) Ahern, her husband, Tom, and their
children. He also leaves his Andrews cousins. David was predeceased by his
sister, Katherine (Gerry) O’Brien and nephew Glenn F. O’Brien, Jr.
Though as a result of natural causes,
David’s passing ironically occurred during a pandemic as did his father’s
own death, from the Spanish flu, at age twenty-nine one hundred years
earlier, leaving David and his sister to be brought up by their mother and
grandmother. A man of humble beginnings, he never forgot his roots. David
made the most of the difficult times; he had a tremendous work ethic and
achieved much. He could be tough on occasion but always fair, a man of his
word. Many will agree that he was also known to be quite a talker,
regaling anyone who would listen with his penchant for sharing stories and
experiences, which we now hold dear! He lived a long, honest life, one
full of proud accomplishments. Loyal and well-respected by many, the world
is a better place for having had him a part of it.
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