Dr. Jerry F. Naples

Dr. Jerry F. Naples, 92, of Bonita Springs, Florida and Cape May, NJ, died on Tuesday, February 24 in Bonita Springs with his wife at his side. Dr. Naples was born to Catherine and Anthony Naples on September 1, 1922 in Flushing, NY, the first of 18 children. He enlisted in the Marines on December 8, 1941, and was part of the initial landing party on Iwo Jima. He was awarded a field promotion to Staff Sargent for his "bravery under fire." Honorably discharged after the war in 1945, Dr. Naples entered college under the GI Bill at age 24 and attended Florida Southern College, where a plaque on that school's "Honor Walk" commemorates his outstanding academic record. He and Marie (Mitzi) Michel met in Cape May, and married there in 1953. Dr. Naples proceeded to Temple University for his medical training, eventually specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He directed the OB-GYN department at Lower Bucks Hospital for more than 18 years, and established an exchange teaching facility through Temple University Medical School that hosted numerous students from Germany. Dr. Naples also played a foundational role at St. Mary's Hospital in Langhorne, and practiced at Nazareth Hospital. His residency at Temple included work at the Philadelphia Department of Health's clinic, and he later established and then directed the free clinic at Lower Bucks. Over his lifetime, Dr. Naples delivered more than 7,000 children, including - in some cases - multiple generations within families. Dr. and Mrs. Naples settled in Levittown PA and were blessed with eight children, one of whom - Katherine - died in 1960. The family moved to a historic home in Fairless Hills PA in 1967. These were memorable years for Dr. Naples and his very active family, who split time between that home and one in Cape May, NJ. Eventually moving to Yardley for the last dozen years of his practice, and retiring in 1997 to Bonita Springs, Florida and Cape May, NJ, Dr. and Mrs. Naples enjoyed seeing their children succeed in the arts, education, and in business, while providing them with 15 grandchildren. An avid golfer and member of Torresdale-Frankford Country Club, The Bucks County Medical Society, and The Exchange Club of Levittown, Dr. Naples enjoyed fishing and hunting trips with his children and grandchildren. He and Mrs. Naples traveled widely abroad. Dr. Naples is survived by Marie, his loving wife of 61 years; their children: Michele, Jerry, Marie, Annabelle, Jean, Lisa, and Mark; their 15 grandchildren; his brothers Robert, Anthony, and Carl, and his sister Cathy. A viewing will be held at Dougherty Funeral Home at 2200 Trenton Road from 5:00-7:00 PM on Monday, March 2, and another Tuesday, March 3, 9:30 - 10:20 am at Queen of the Universe, 2443 Trenton Road in Levittown, before the Funeral Mass at 10:30 am. Rite of Committal will follow at Resurrection Cemetery on Hulmeville Road in Bensalem. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any contributions be sent to Guadalupe Social Services, 211 South 9th Street, Immokalee, FL 34142. Phone: 239.657.6242. Guadalupe is part of the Catholic Charities Network of Collier County, FL.