A well-known senior and community activist was killed last week in a daytime hit and run accident in Throggs Neck.
Angelo ‘Jerry’ Gerardi, an 89-year old Throggs Neck resident, passed away on Wednesday, September 16, from the injuries he sustained when he was struck at East Tremont Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue just two days earlier.
The incident took place on the morning of Monday, September 14, when Gerardi crossed the busy thoroughfare after parking his car.
He was hit by an 87-year old man driving a Plymouth, who was travelling northbound on East Tremont Avenue.
Following the incident, Gerardi, was taken to Jacobi Hospital, he was listed in serious condition with severe body trauma.
Just over 48 hours later, Gerardi was pronounced dead.
The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made.
According to employees of Amalgamated Bank, which is located just steps away from where the incident occurred, Gerardi was on his way to the bank when the incident occurred.
“He was polite, respectful and just a wonderful person,” Anna Candido, head teller at Amalgamated Bank said.
Gerardi was a regular at the bank for the past 15 years. “He was a true gentleman, he was loved by everybody who knew him and he will be greatly missed,” she concluded.
Known simply as ‘Jerry’, Gerardi was born in Brewster, NY on March 27, 1926 to Jane (Nole) and Daniel Gerardi.
As a child, Jerry worked in his father’s Latticini store on 187th Street.
At age 12, he crafted a professional shoe shine box and set up his own personal business on the same corner. One day, he had the pleasure of shining shoes for a then-unknown skinny Hoboken kid named Frank Sinatra.
Jerry served his country in the Pacific during World War II as a combat-decorated infantryman.
After the war, Jerry married Rosemarie Piscitelli on June 25, 1949.
After attending diamond setting school, Jerry went on to establish himself on 47th Street’s Diamond District in Manhattan as a diamond setter and jeweler, where he owned and operated his own successful business for over 50 years.
Additionally, Jerry was a fourth degree past Grand Knight of the Mary Queen of Peace, Knights of Columbus and was also the president of the AARP 603 Chapter.
He enjoyed organizing trips for his fellow seniors.
Jerry’s funeral was on Monday, September 21 at St. Benedict’s Church after services took place at Sisto Funeral Home on Saturday and Sunday.
He was buried in St. Raymond’s Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife Rosemarie, sister Christine, three daughters Josephine, Marie and Diana, and two grandsons Steven and Matthew.
