Jeremiah Joseph Herlihy, 87, passed away peacefully at his home in New Hyde Park, NY on Saturday morning, September 15, 2012. Jerry, as he was known to his family and friends, was a loving husband to his wife Bernice, and father to Kevin, James, Joyce, Robert and Daniel. He also had eight grandchildren, Erin, Michael, Christine, Evan, Jillian, Brendan, Dylan and Nicholas.
Jerry's parents emigrated to the United States from Ireland in the early 1900's, met in New York and were married. Jerry and his older brother Daniel were born in Manhattan, NY. From the time he was a baby, he had stories to tell. When he was baptized, it was an Irish custom at the time that the father took the child to the church to be baptized. There was some disagreement between his parents on what he would be named. His mother wanted to name him Joseph, and she thought they had agreed to name him that, but when his father took him to the church, he decided on another name. So when the priest asked him what the baby's name was, he said "Jeremiah". So, Jeremiah Joseph Herlihy it was. So, as a child growing up, what do you think his mother called, him? No, not Joseph, nor Jeremiah, she called him Bob. So did his older brother Daniel. Whenever my uncle Dan would come to visit us, he would call him Bob. And whenever his cousins came to visit, they would call him Joseph. He must have been a pretty special child to have all these names. His childhood was not always easy, growing up during the depression and going without much of the things we take for granted nowadays. He would tell us that he received a new pair of shoes every Easter. One pair of shoes for a year, for a growing boy. But he was never unhappy for the things he never had, he was happy for the things he did have. He always talked fondly of his childhood when he would visit his uncle Paddy, who owned an Irish bar in Manhattan, and of his mother's good Irish cooking. And going to Spring Lake NJ in the summer. He wasn't a cook himself - he could barely boil water throughout most of his adult life. But he did appreciate others cooking for him. Be it from his wife or his children, it didn't matter, as long as he didn't have to prepare it, he never complained about the food, he just loved the service! And dessert always had to follow any meal. He had a sweet tooth like nobody's business. And on Sunday evening, he always saved the newspaper "funnies" to read during dinner. Then, later in life, when Bernice's eyesight was failing her, he learned a few things in the kitchen and pretty soon he was serving meals to Bernice. Nothing fancy, mind you, but very much appreciated. He was very caring and thoughtful that way.
Jerry graduated from St. Agnes High School in Manhattan while living in Woodside, NY. In 1943 he joined the United States Navy at the age of 17, and after going through basic training in New Orleans, he spent the next two years on the USS Sabik, a Liberty ship that transported troops in the South Pacific. He always talked proudly of his time in the Navy, and had a lot of adventurous stories to tell regarding his time overseas. He said he took a typing class in high school, and in the Navy they asked if anyone could type. After raising his hand, he then became the ships clerk. He quickly rose from the rank of private to first class petty officer. Pretty impressive for a young man at the age of 19 or 20. One of his duties was typing up and posting the "watch guard" list. Since it was wartime, the ship had around the clock guards keeping watch for enemy ships and planes in the distance. But, oddly enough, one of the names that was never on the list from the Captain was his, and he made sure not to bring it up to the Captain. So he didn't have to stand watch for the next year and a half, until the Captain finally noticed the mistake. He then gladly stood his "watch". His ship was in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii the day the Japanese surrendered and the war was over. After the Navy, he came back to NY and joined the Reserves. Through the GI Bill, he attended St. John's University at night while working during the day. He received a Bachelors Degree in Business Management. In 1947 he took a job with Texaco Oil Company and worked for them for more than 37 years as a supervisory accountant in their NY office in the Chrysler building. He also volunteered for the Junior Achievement program during this time. Jerry was able to retire at the relatively young age of 60.
After his first child was born, plans were made so that his mother, Nora, would mind her grandson while Jerry and Bernice were at work. Unfortunately, this never took place, as Nora died an untimely death at 55 years of age. In 1955, just after their second child was born, Jerry and Bernice left Queens to give their young family a better life with a move to the suburbs of Long Island. They bought a house in New Hyde Park, NY in 1955 and never left. Jerry's father, William came to live with his growing family, William passed away in 1966 at the age of 75. Jerry did a lot of remodeling to his house over the years, much of it himself, including building an extension onto the back where he spent most of his time. Having five children to raise, he was always busy. He coached his son's baseball teams and took them to track meets on weekends. He always attended his children's basketball games as well as the parades where his children marched with the school band. And if there were any more parades to be seen, he took the whole family. He also enjoyed the pool he put in the backyard for his children and their friends. And on summer weekends, the whole family, and some friends, would pile into the station wagon to go to Jones Beach.
Every August, his children would look forward to taking a vacation for a week to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, to visit Bernice's hometown. He would always take his children to the Allegheny County Fair, and to Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh for a day of amusement rides. It was something his kids remember well. While visiting Pittsburgh each year, Bernice would meet up with her high school girlfriends for dinner. Jerry continued to drive her to Pittsburgh each year for the next 50 years straight so she could see her relatives and friends.
After a few years of retirement, he and his wife Bernice purchased a winter condominium in Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, where they spent a few months each winter for the next 15 years. He loved being near the water and took every opportunity to go to the beach in Florida. He was always offering the use of his Florida condo to his family and friends. Unfortunately Jerry and Bernice have not been to their Florida vacation home for the last few years, but he always talked about going back down there every winter.
Jerry was a great father, who always put the needs of his wife and children before his own. He devoted his life to raising his five children, giving us all the opportunities in life that he never had as a child. He was a parishioner of Notre Dame church in New Hyde Park since 1955 and even though money was tight, he saw to it that all five of his children attended Notre Dame grade school. He was also a great animal lover, we always had cats and dogs in the house growing up and every day he would feed the squirrels and birds in our backyard. And, whenever a neighbor would walk their dog past his house, he would run outside with a treat for them. We will miss him dearly and are comforted to know that he is no longer in pain, that his work is finally over and he is able to rest and is at peace. Dad, we will always keep you in our prayers. Please give us the strength to be as good a person as you were. We love you.
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