Gerald Thomas Bracken

Gerald Thomas Bracken Sr. 74, of 240 Eider Rd, Venice Florida, passed away unexpectedly of a massive heart attack in the early morning hours of Friday November 5, 2010. Gerald was the beloved husband, companion and best friend for 44 years, to his one true love, soul mate and the mother to his 3 children, Frances Dorothy Bracken, also a resident of Venice Florida. Gerald and Dottie have raised 3 beautiful children (2 boys and a girl) and 4 outstanding and loving grandchildren. Gerald is survived by his lovely wife Dottie, who for the past 25 years has headed and steered the career of motivational speaker and former resident Dr. James Sigafoose.

Gerald Bracken a devoted father to Gary Stephen Bracken, formerly a Venice High Scholl graduate, is now a building contractor in Nashville Tennessee. Gary built his families winter vacation log cabin 4 years ago in Kingston Springs has 2 children, also Venice High graduates. His eldest daughter Brandi-lyn, 21, currently resides on the other coast of Florida, while his son Gary Jr. also lives in Nashville, TN pursuing a career in the arts. His middle child and only daughter Debra (DJ) Jean Bracken, a graduate of CUNY in New York with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and PR, is a single mother to a 9 year old little boy, Michael Thomas Bracken. DJ presently resides permanently in Kingston Springs, TN. Debra has worked in the restaurant/hospitality business for the past 25 years and prior to her son's arrival traveled all over the world opening celebrity restaurants and working as a publicist in the movie business. Now she splits her time in Music City still working in the hospitality business but has recently started along with her mother a jewelry and crafting business. DJ has also along with her father Gerald coached his grandson Michael in little league for the past 6 ½ years. Finally Mr. Bracken's youngest son, Gerald (JB) Jr. who moved to Tennessee a little more than 6 years ago to pursue a country music career, which is what led Mr. and Mrs. Bracken to building the log home in Tennessee in the first place. JB continues with a career in singing in addition to working as a restaurant Manager in Nashville, however he is presently waiting to be called to join the Nashville Metro PD. JB also raises a 13 year old daughter Erikka who lives with her mother in Santa Monica, California spends most of her summers, Christmas and other available vacations at the family home in Kingston Springs.

Originally however, Gerald Bracken was born and raised on Staten Island, New York and was the son of retired detective Lt. John Bracken of Eltingville. All of Lt John Bracken's sons and brothers were members of either the police or the Fire Department. Gerald came from a family that served the city of New York for 5 generations. At the age of 17 he entered into the United States Navy and served for 4 years affording him the tremendous opportunity to travel all over the world on a destroyer the USS Leary (from 1954-1957)at such a young age. Although as much as he enjoyed being a naval personnel and serving his country, he never could get use to his time underwater in what he called a "Tin Can". It was after his tour of duty that he followed in the prestigious family footsteps at the young age of 21 (1959) he decided to join the NYPD. He was fortunate to only have to serve one year in Manhattan south walking the beat in uniform before he was promoted to plain clothes and transferred to the 120 precinct in St George to the "youth squad". In 1966 he received his gold shield or detective badge, an honor that is appointed by the Mayor of NY and was again transferred and ended up in the 6th precinct in Greenwich Village. In 1973 he was transferred to Harlam working Burglery/Homicide where he remained until he retired in 1980 after 20 years of exemplary service.

In 1975 he received a special medal of valor for helping to rescue a 10 year old little boy and his partner from drowning in the East River. In addition one of the duties he performed as an office was swearing in serpico. His father joined the police department and 1936. In 1937 Mayor Fiorella La Guardia awarded Lt John Bracken the Michael J Delehanty Medal of valor for his rescue of a young woman who had jumped from a ferry boat. From 1937 until 1951 Lt John Bracken was assigned to the district attorney's squad in Manhattan and participated in District Attorney Thomas E Dewey's organized crime investigations, including the prestigious Murder Inc. probe.

In 1952 he took over command of the Staten Island district Attorney's squad. When he retired in 1957, he was a commander of the New Dorp Squad. During his career, Lt Bracken was cited 5 times by the honor board of the department. After his retirement from the force he worked as an investigator for the state crime commission from 1957 to 1959. Gerald's mother Evelyn was a stay at home mom all of his life. He is also survived by his two brothers Richard, a retired Acting Lieutenant on the person's Squad formerly of the 122 precinct on Staten Island's Armstrong Ave, Great Kills and John, a retired Fire Lt. who still resides with his family at 75th and York, Manhattan New York. His uncle Walter is a retired police inspector and his Uncle Frank a retired deputy fire Chief of Mantolokong, NJ

After Gerald retired from the Police Office he moved his family to Venice in 1980 and spent another 20 years working for the Northport post office and retired for the 2nd time after 20 years there. He was a member of the VFW and the American legion of Venice for many years. In 2002 Jerry was Legionnaire of the month for his tireless fund raising efforts for their annual golf tournament 3 years running. The golf tournament helped to raise money for Venice High School scholarships.

He was most proud of his 6 holes in one. A feat his sons are still trying to beat. To date only his son Gary was able to achieve a hole in one in one of the tournaments he ran, but they still have a long way to go to surpass the family record.