Gerald Francis DeRuyter

Gerald “Jerry” Francis DeRuyter of Fernandina Beach, FL passed on April 9th, 2026, at the age of 94. Jerry was born February 27, 1932, in Clifton Springs, NY to Katherine Lucille Connolly and Henry Bernard DeRuyter. Katherine’s parents immigrated from Ireland, and she was born in the United States. His father, Henry, was a first-generation American who came to the United States from the Netherlands as a teenager and later became a naturalized US citizen. Jerry grew up in Phelps, NY, a rural town in Ontario County in New York State’s Finger Lakes Region, where his parents owned and operated a small breakfast/lunch venue, across from the local sauerkraut factory.

Jerry is predeceased by his wife, Marjorie “Marge” Janette Burm. Marge passed on October 17, 2014, at the age of 80, after her courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Marge and Jerry were married May 30, 1953, and were lifelong partners who did most everything together. They had three children, whom they often professed were their greatest accomplishments; two daughters, Patricia “Patti” DeRuyter Millage (Steve) of Fernandina Beach, FL, and Karen Ruth DeRuyter (Jon Hammond) also of Fernandina Beach, FL; and a son, Robert “Bob” James DeRuyter (Karen) of Saugerties, NY. Jerry is survived by five grandchildren; Gretchen, Tyler, Michael, Emily, and Katherine; three great-grandsons; Liam, Jude, and Sylas, and by his brother, Paul Charles DeRuyter (Terry) of Fairport, NY.

Jerry graduated from Phelps Central High School in 1949 at seventeen and enlisted in the US Army that September. He served in the Korean War and was awarded a Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Korean Service Medal with 2 service stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the UN Service Medal. He received an honorable discharge on June 27, 1952. Assisted by benefits provided by the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the G.I. Bill of Rights, Jerry earned a degree from SUNY at Alfred in 1955 and a few months later in July, he began his career at IBM. “By 1956, when the GI Bill expired, the education-and-training portion had disbursed $14.5 billion to veterans-but the Veterans Administration estimated the increase in Federal income taxes alone would pay for the cost of the bill several times over.” Jerry worked for IBM for 36 years in system programming; designing and diagnosing hardware level operations. He lived most of his adult working years in Poughkeepsie, NY, located in the scenic Hudson River Valley, with his wife, Marge, raising their children.

Jerry retired from IBM July 31, 1991, and in 1994 he and Marge moved to Camelot Lakes Village, Sarasota, FL. They relaxed in the warm Florida sunshine and enjoyed Sarasota’s beautiful beaches. Jerry volunteered in their community with annual tax preparation and Marge liked to garden and play cards and bingo with her friends. Together, they helped maintain the community library. Marge and Jerry traveled to a few Caribbean Islands and to some US and Canadian National Parks, but most of their travel involved visits to their adult children and their grandchildren in NY State and on the US West Coast.

In January of 2019, Jerry moved from Sarasota, FL to Fernandina Beach, FL. He was among the initial residents of the then newly opened The Lakeside at Amelia Island. Jerry was an early riser, taking a morning walk before many were awake or had their first cup of coffee, and on colder mornings, he made sure the lobby fireplace was on. In April 2025, Jerry transitioned to assisted living at Lakeside. Shortly after the move, he suffered an acute left thalamic stroke and transferred to Lakeside memory care. Jerry regularly engaged in pleasant conversation and camaraderie with staff and residents of the community, and he enjoyed years of extended independence due to the support and services provided through Lakeside's various residential options. Jerry’s family appreciates the opportunities that were available to him while living at Lakeside and will always remember the kindness and professionalism of the staff.

At Jerry’s request, there is no formal service. Jerry’s ashes will be interred at Jacksonville National Cemetery with his wife, Marge. Her ashes were transferred from Sarasota National Cemetery to Jacksonville National Cemetery in 2019 in anticipation that Marge and Jerry would be “Together Forever”.