Jeremiah Michael Haggerty

Jeremiah (Jerry) Michael Haggerty, 83 of New City, NY, passed away on 5/18/14 at his home in the presence of his beloved wife Kathleen, six children and sixteen grandchildren. He was born on January 19, 1931 to Michael and Margaret (Callaghan) Haggerty, who had both emigrated from Kilgarvan, County Kerry, Ireland to NYC in 1919. He was predeceased by his father (1934), mother (1986) and his brother Michael (2004). He grew up on Melrose Ave. and Jerry's mother always called her sons the "best two boys from the Bronx". Jerry attended La Salle Academy in Manhattan on a basketball scholarship. He attended Manhattan College and graduated with a mathematics degree in 1954 and later received his Master's degree from Columbia University. Jerry also served in the military and was stationed in Japan. When he returned, he was a math professor at Manhattan College. Jerry met the love of his life, Kathleen Frances Hurley in 1957. They were married on August 23, 1958 and settled in the Bronx. Later, they moved to Valley Cottage, NY and Jerry became head of the Math Department at Tappan Zee High School, where he taught for 35 years. He was also the principal of the summer school program for many years. Teaching was his passion, and he influenced countless students who shared his love of math. Jerry is survived by his six children: Susan (Thomas O'Connor), Michael (Jody Cuccia), Joan (Patrick Fitzmaurice), Stephen (Angela McQuade), Jeannine (Phillip Ratchford), Barbara (Zannetti) and his sixteen grandchildren: Alaina, Colin, Jennifer, Emily, Daniel, Taylor, Brian, Michael, Katie, Kira, Julia, Conor, Shannon, CJ, Christian and Mia. Jerry enjoyed home improvement projects, his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers, tending his vegetable garden, and spending time with his grandchildren. His incredible legacy will live on through his family. He set the bar very high for all who were graced to know him. He lived his life by four simple principles: faith, honesty, integrity and family and his children and grandchildren live their lives with him as their role model. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 3PM to 8 PM at Higgins Funeral Home in Congers. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:30 AM on Thursday at St. Augustine's R.C. Church followed by interment at Frederick Loescher Veterans Memorial Cemetery, New Hempstead. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Hospice of Rockland, 11 Stokum Lane, New City, NY 10956 or the National MS Society.