Girlamo "Jerry" DiChiara

DiCHIARA - Girlamo “Jerry” DiChiara,84, entered into eternal rest on March 5, 2018. He was born December 21, 1933 in Tampa, Florida. He has made Jacksonville his home for the past 50 years. Jerry graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1952 and from the University of Florida in 1957, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction. He served at the West Point Military Academy while on active duty with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1957–1959. After his discharge from the active Army, he remained in the Army reserve and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1984. He joined the Corps of Engineers as a civilian in 1962 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Jerry has served in a variety of positions within the district including: Assistant Project Engineer and Project Engineer at Patrick Air Force Base, Chief of Contract Administration and Resident Office Engineer at the Canaveral Resident office in Cape Canaveral, program analyst for the Interoceanic canal studies, District Value Engineer Officer, Chief of Contract Administration Branch, Chief of Supervision and Inspection Branch, Chief of Construction Division, Chief of Operations Division, Assistant Chief of Construction Operations Division, and Deputy District Engineer.

Noteworthy among his assignments was his tour in Israel on the Camp David Accord Airbase Program as Chief of Construction, Ovda Area Office, where he supported airbase constructions at Ovda, Israel. Later, he served as a member of the Office of Chief of Engineers’ Value engineering teaching staff. Here he took part in writing and teaching the first series of Value Engineering classes. As chief of Construction – Operations, Jerry directed the District’s construction, operations and maintenance, and emergency management programs. He served as staff supervisor for all contract construction in dredging work, and construction by government plant in hired labor, including new work in maintenance dredging, snagging work and wreck removal. He provided staff advice, technical assistance and supervision to Area Engineers engaged in on-site execution of construction, operations and maintenance for which he exercised primary responsibility. Con – Ops Division responsibilities include the EPA construction grants support program and the operation and maintenance of completed civil works water resources projects throughout the District. These included 60 navigation projects, including 16 deepwater ports, 30 navigation locks and over 2,100 miles of inland waterways in an intensive aquatic plant control program. Jerry received many awards and decorations, including recognition for his work during the districts Hurricane Andrew Response and Recovery effort. After 42 years with the US Army Corps of Engineers, Jerry retired at the age of 65 to pursue a future for which he had no project management plan. He became a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus member, the Grand Knight of St. Bernadette Assembly and volunteered for habitat for humanity for 15 years. He was a member of San Jose Catholic Church for 49 years. Jerry was married to his wife for 54 years at her passing. He was a devoted husband to his wife, a devoted father to his children, a devoted grandfather to his grandchildren and a devoted mentor to the community. Jerry is survived by his three children, son Jerry DiChiara of San Diego, California, son Peter J. DiChiara of Jacksonville, daughter Melissa A. Poirier (Gregg) of Wellington, Florida; grandchildren Cecil, Maggie, Simon DiChiara and Taylor, Gracie and Trey Poirier, Sister Rose Varon of Tampa, Florida along with countless other friends and family who were blessed to know him. A visitation will be held March 9, 2018 at 11 am at San Jose Catholic Church, 3619 Toledo Rd., Jacksonville. FL 32217 with a mass to be celebrated at 12 o’clock noon. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Knights of Columbus. Please send to: San Jose Catholic Church, C/O Knights of Columbus, 3619 Toledo Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32217. Arrangements being handled by Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd. Jacksonville, FL. 32211