Jerry was born on September 18, 1934 in San Benedetto in Perillis, L’Aquila, Italy to the late Antonio and Palmira Lattanzio. Jerry came to the United States in 1938. He graduated from St. John’s University in 1956 with a BA in English. Jerry proudly served as a member of the United States Army and had a profound love of country. Jerry subsequently completed a Master’s Degree in English from New York University.
In 1959, Jerry met the love of his life, Grace (Hourigan) while the two were waiting for a ferry to attend a dance in New Rochelle, New York. The couple married in the Bronx, New York at St. Helena’s Parish on August 26, 1961. In March 1974, they became a family with the arrival of their daughter, Tricia. Jerry and his family moved to Croton-on-Hudson in May 1977, where he and Grace remained until his passing.
Jerry was a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name of Mary Council and Croton Seniors Club. His full head of thick white hair and full white beard made him a recognizable figure in the Village. Jerry enjoyed making people laugh, and regularly shared a joke or two at the weekly Senior Club meetings. He particularly delighted in his Friday night poker game with his friends and fellow Knights. He loved puttering around in his yard and garden, doing daily crossword puzzles in multiple newspapers, watching John Wayne movies, and was an avid coin collector. Over the past several years, he was the devoted primary caregiver for Grace following her stroke in 2015.
In addition to his beloved wife, Grace, Jerry is survived by his cherished daughter, Patricia M. Lattanzio, Esq. and her fiancé Kevin Hennessy of White Plains, NY and his brother, Victor Lattanzio and his wife, Florence of Chandler, Arizona.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 from 3-5PM and 7-9PM at the HOLY NAME OF MARY CHURCH, 110 Grand St., Croton-on-Hudson, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 also at Holy Name of Mary Church at 10AM. A private interment will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions in Jerry’s name be made to:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center https://secure2.convio.net/mskcc/site/SPageServer?pagename=donate&donID=11472&_ga=2.69536400.1242049665.1501341199-1068620794.1489067212
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