John G. “Jerry” Hart

John G. “Jerry” Hart died Wednesday evening at the age of 88. Born in Rochester, NY in 1923, he learned to fly airplanes as a teenager by trading labor for lessons. He piloted sub-hunting aircraft for the Navy in WWII, came home, and married his high school sweetheart Barbara Smith. An engineer by training, he worked at Delco, GM (where, among other things he helped invent windshield wipers that went around curved windshields), and Stackpole Electronics, which brought him to Raleigh. There he built a successful management consulting practice, served in Kiwanis, and sang in the choir at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Jerry and Barbara, his bride for 62 years, loved life, loved travel, loved their children, and loved a good party. He was extravagantly gregarious. At the Heritage of Raleigh he was known by all for his prolific photography and relentless kindness. His habitual goal was to make people laugh and to laugh with them.

He is survived by five of his six children, four grandchildren, and one not-quite-arrived great-grandchild. He will be greatly missed, by them, by his many, many dear friends at the Heritage, and by all those whose lives he touched.

On Monday July 16th, a funeral mass will be held at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Raleigh, at 9:30 am. A memorial and celebration of his life will be held at the Heritage of Raleigh, 1200 Carlos Drive, on the same day, at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations to Hospice of Wake County.

Resquiescat in pace.