Tribute Wall
Memorial Contributions
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Andrews School, 435 Anton St., Bridgeport, CT, 06606.
Loading...
J
Joyce Generoso lit a candle
Friday, July 10, 2020
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Candle.png
D
Donna Packo Diaz uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
/public-file/1914/Ultra/f770b82a-a8e6-4202-8fb2-30d585b7308d.jpg
/public-file/1915/Ultra/2b643575-35bc-4f15-8413-7dc9f87ab390.jpg
As one of my dear cousins, Jerry truly was a sweet, kind man. His mom Catherine was the oldest of the DeGirolamo clan and my mom Anamae was the youngest. Jerry was closer in age to my mom--and how he loved her, Aunt Jane, Uncle Lou as well as his "younger" cousins. Although time and distance often kept us apart, it was clear that he was a genuinely loving and faith-filled man. I had the pleasure of speaking with him on the phone last week. Although a bit weak, he was still engaging. It was beautiful connecting with Jerry this one last time...I will forever remember his spirit and I do believe that his love lives on through each of us.
The attached pics are from Nov 2018 at Aunt Mary's 90th bday. Wonderful memories of being together!
J
John C Simpson posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Jerry was my cousin Barbara's husband and together they raised a wonderful family and had a beautiful life together. I remember attending their wedding, and having seen them at every family gathering all my life. I was always impressed by how Jerry would do whatever he could to help out other family members - he worked tirelessly. He would always volunteer to pick up people, including my mother from the airport, or help her out with home repairs. Then there were the amazing dinners. i like to think my mother taught me a few things about Italian cooking, but I was no match for the Vitales. He was godfather for one of my children, Rose. Few people can live up to his gold standard of life - always doing things the right way. Rest in peace Jerry, you will be missed.
D
Donna Knight lit a candle
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Candle3.png
Donna Knight posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Jerry was a kind and gentle soul. He was a wonderful husband to my beloved cousin Barbara and a loving father and grandfather.
I have many memories of sharing bountiful dinners cooked by Barbara and Christmas with the family.Jerry gave me business advice when I opened my travel agency and facilitated some visits with my father and accompanied me for hospital visits.
I send deepest condolences and love to the family Donna Knight
Jerry was the Godfather of my son and cut my children's hair for the first time. The hair cuts were tear free ( except me) thanks to the trust they had for " Uncle Jerry". The kids were crazy about him.Of course the haircuts were followed by one of Barbara's big dinners. I loved Jerry a lot. He wasn't my cousin -in -law- he was my cousin. Donna Knight
C
Chris Gomperts posted a condolence
Monday, July 6, 2020
Jerry had a a very kind and gentle heart. He worked hard his entire life and raised a beautiful family. His legacy and memory will continue to live on through his children and grandchildren. He made it a point to travel to as many of the kids' graduations as he could and he made sure that the family was always cared and provided for. I know he was extremely proud of every one of his children and grandchildren. He had a no nonsense way about him and he did what he felt was right. While he never explicitly said it, I know by what he did that he wanted to create lasting memories. It was because of him that the entire family was able to be together in the Bahamas. He rented a charter fishing boat. I'm sure Jay, Tony, Joe, Jordan, William, and Jack will never forget that trip. It was on that trip that William became known as the "funk master" He made it possible for the entire family to take a charter bus to Broadway to see a musical together. He loved hot dogs from the Merritt Canteen and Duchess and he could always go for a whooper with cheese from Burger King. Every once in a while he'd use the microwave to make a hot ham & cheese "sangwich". He loved talking about his time in the army and would often weave into a conversation one of his favorite sayings - "This is my rifle, this is my gun, this one's for fighting, this one's for fun!". He'd talk about "his time in nam". The first time I went to Deerfield drive to help him with something, it was help him fix the charging system on the RV. We worked on it for hours in the driveway but could never get it to go. I didn't know the family all that well at that point and all I wanted to do was go home because I couldn't fix the RV. But Barbara had cooked a big dinner and he said to me "if you ever want to see Gina again you better go inside and have dinner, otherwise you'll make Barbara upset". That epitomized who the Vitale's are, kind, caring, and loving people. When he had the pool liner changed (1995 or 96 time frame) he made sure that the kids were able to put their hand prints into the concrete pad. Every year he opened up that pool as a draw to have his family around him, and it worked. He led a very full and productive life. He was a simple man without a lot of sophistication or formal education. He would say all the time that he went to the school of hard knocks. And he did and as a result he was one of the most brilliant and successful businessmen I ever knew. He kept things simple, they didn't need to be complicated. Jerry was kind and gentle soul with a gigantic heart. He earned an admission ticket to heaven and is now back with his bride Barbara and his mother Nana. Thank you Jerry for all that you did for your family, me, and my family. We will never forget you. And your family will continue to reminisce and hear about you for generations to come. We all knew you and who you were as person, as a Christian, as a husband, as a father, and father-in-law, and as a grandfather. No matter what lense you were seen from, everybody saw the same Jerry Vitale. Gina, Vicky, Jay, and Tony your father will never be forgotten. He was loved by many people, including me. Rest in the peace and knowledge that he is in heaven with your mom. Chris
T
Tony Posted Jul 7, 2020 at 12:58 PM
Eloquently written, Chris.
Some other good ones from JFV:
"Whoever eats the fastest eats the mostest!"
"I'll crown you..."
"Brrrrr Ca-koo, Ca-koo!!!"
"To heaven, wanna come?"
"Get me a dog with the works..."
"Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."
"I went to look at a car..."
"There's gravy on the stove."
"Tony Truman"
Love ya, Pop.
C
Chris Gomperts uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 6, 2020
/public-file/1912/Ultra/fe4932d2-63d9-4396-97af-47517d16ced0.jpg
This is from Christmas Eve 2016 at Vicky and Bob's house. Jerry loved his family.
L
Laura Wolff lit a candle
Monday, July 6, 2020
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Candle.png
D
Donna Diaz uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 6, 2020
/public-file/1910/Ultra/a82bd6e4-73ea-4bba-a4cb-eaab63e4192d.jpg
/public-file/1911/Ultra/32edb6cb-3f5c-44cd-a1d9-369da52611a8.jpg
My cousin Jerry--what a dear, sweet guy! Had a wonderful talk with him last week. And, despite his illness, he was full of love and faith. After a beautiful day celebrating his granddaughter's marriage, he peacefully passed surrounded by those he loved. Always in our hearts!
With love to his family-
The Diaz's--Donna, Steve and children
D
Debbie Bourdeau lit a candle
Sunday, July 5, 2020
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Candle.png
Jay:
So sorry for your loss.
Debbie
V
The family of Jerome F. Vitale, Sr. uploaded a photo
Sunday, July 5, 2020
/tribute-images/4416/Ultra/Jerome-Vitale-Sr.jpg
Please wait
8
The family of Jerome F. Vitale, Sr. uploaded a photo
Sunday, July 5, 2020
/tribute-images/4414/Ultra/Jerome-Vitale-Sr.jpg
Please wait
Our Location:
419 White Plains Rd
Trumbull, CT 06611
Phone: 203-373-1013
Fax: 203-373-1168
EMAIL US:
Directions:
For detailed driving directions click here.