Jerald Morton Greenblatt

Jerald (“Jerry”) Morton Greenblatt, of Garland, Texas, 62 years old, died on October 19, 2022, after a short illness. He was born in Dallas, Texas, on July 28, 1960 and graduated from Hillcrest High School. He received a degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, where he was a member of the Navy ROTC. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Navy as an Ensign, attended, and graduated from, Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. He was then stationed on Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, Washington, where he was assigned to a squadron and flew the EA-6B Grumman Prowler as a Co-Pilot/Navigator and Electronics Weapons Officer. He was deployed on numerous aircraft carriers and was proud of being a Night Centurion, having landed on carriers at sea over 100 times at night. Included in his assignments were stations in Bahrain and Hawaii. Upon retiring from the U.S. Navy after a 20-year career with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, he then earned a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas and worked for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems in projects relating to missile defense systems and the simulation and analysis of advanced RF systems (including radar, RF seekers and Electronic Warfare Systems), ultimately attaining the position of Principal Systems Engineer.

Jerry had a love for his cats and adopted/rescued many kittens and cats throughout his adult life. He was famous for his “Christmas in July” bar-b-que parties and was an avid cook and griller, being especially proud of his champion chili recipes. He loved hosting family at his summertime pool parties, where he was known to be a fierce competitor in games of Marco Polo. Because of his close relationship to his nieces and nephews, he was known to family, friends and neighbors simply as “Uncle Jerry”.

He is survived by his wife, Rhonda Neel of Garland, Texas, sister Merilyn Robbins of Richardson, Texas, and his brother David Greenblatt (and wife Grace-anne Greenblatt) of Dallas, Texas; nephews Josh Robbins (and wife Molly Dye Robbins) of McKinney, Texas, and Scott Robbins (and fiancée Sami Dworkin) of Richardson, Texas, and nieces Grace Guilbert (and husband Michael Guilbert) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Caroline Greenblatt of Charlottesville, Virginia, and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Walter and Carol Ann (Burg) Greenblatt of Dallas, Texas, his brother Dale Greenblatt of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Sunny Miranda of Granbury, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society (Dallas, Texas), Operation Kindness (Carrollton, Texas), or another charity of the donor’s choice.

Funeral and burial with full military honors will take place for family and close friends on Sunday, October 23 ,at 1:00 p.m. at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas.