Gerald Drechsler

Gerald (Jerry) Edward Drechsler was born on November 13, 1940 in Meriden, CT to the late Stanley Drechsler and Irene Sobolewski-LaQuerre. Jerry is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Faith Drechsler, and children Shelley Taylor and her husband Rich; Daniel Drechsler and his wife Andrea; and Susan Moutta and her husband Bobby. He is predeceased by a sister Joy Dondero and survived by a brother Mark Drechsler and sister Mary Drechsler. He was blessed with four granddaughters, Alexa, Ariana, Halley and Hannah, two step grandsons Noah and Ben, and a great granddaughter Vivienne.

In his youth Jerry was an avid fisherman, hunter and trapper. He attended Notre Dame High School in West Haven, CT where he excelled as a student and received medals for Excellence in Religion and Marksmanship. He graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Jerry began his professional career at Terry Steam Turbine in Hartford, CT and spent the remaining 27 years of his successful career at Northeast Utilities (NU) in Maintenance & Reliability Engineering. Most of his work was at NU’s Connecticut Yankee and Millstone power plants, where he received many letters of commendation for his dedication, expertise in pumps and rotating machinery, the cost savings he produced and the lost power generation he saved. He always carried a Professional Engineer’s license and received the distinguished Engineer of the Year Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Jerry also co-founded the Millstone Scuba team, which inspected intake structures and large water vessels. He also dove recreationally, and for the Westbrook dragger fishing fleet, where he performed underwater boat inspections and recovered lost netting equipment.

Jerry was a “jack of all trades.” There wasn’t much he couldn’t do or wasn’t knowledgeable about, including mechanics, carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing and landscaping. He was an avid nautical history collector and won Best in Show for his fine and complete collection of antique naval cutlasses at the Glastonbury Gun Show. He was also a collector of military memorabilia, millstones, all things mermaid, ship figure heads, and of course, anchors. Dubbed “Clinton’s Anchor Man”, he spent many years salvaging, buying, selling and researching anchors, many of which proudly donned his yards. He loved visiting granite quarries and became an avid stone cutter, making tables, benches, steps, gardens, walkways and bird baths out of stone.

Following retirement, Jerry was a generous donor of his time, talents and skills to community, family and friends. He designed and built the Grace Church stone Memorial Garden, installed the granite Grace Church sign and benches and St Mary’s baptismal font. He was also a member of the Elks Club in Westbrook, CT.

Jerry will always be remembered for being a devoted husband, wonderful father, generous provider, loving grandfather, the fun “Uncle Jerry and for always being willing to lend a helping hand to serve God, his family, his community and his church.

Calling hours will be on Sunday February 1st from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Swan Funeral Home, 80 E Main St. Clinton, CT 06413

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday February 2nd at 11:00 AM in St Mary Church of the Visitation, Grove St Clinton, CT. Burial to follow at St Mary Cemetery, Park Beach Rd Clinton, CT