Gerald J. Naves Jr.

Gerry was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 6, 1931, the son of Gerald J. Naves, Sr. and Blanche Langevin Naves. He attended elementary schools in Boston, Atlanta and Danbury’s Balmforth Avenue, finishing grades 5-8 at Saint Joseph School. At the age of 13, Gerry left for Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania, to attend the Holy Ghost Fathers Seminary. He returned to Danbury for his senior year of high school, graduating in the Danbury High School Class of 1948.

Following his schooling, Gerry served in the Navy during the Korean War. He was stationed in Key West where he met his future wife Florence A. Sawyer. Gerry and Florence were married in 1953 at St. Joseph Church in Danbury. They had been married for 62 years until her death in 2015.

Gerry was a Founding Member of St. Edward the Confessor Church in New Fairfield.

Gerry ran a Dale Carnegie Training Program in Danbury in the 1950s and 60s. He was known for his writing abilities and exemplary public speaking. He later entered into Federal Law Enforcement serving as a Sky Marshal for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Upon the elimination of the Sky Marshal Program, he transferred to the U.S. Customs Service retiring as a Senior Inspector in 1996.

In his retirement, Gerry became involved in the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees. He was President of the local chapter as well as President of the Connecticut Federation until the time of his death. During his tenure, he attended NARFE National Conventions as a delegate from Connecticut.

Gerry was predeceased by his parents and his wife Florence. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Lee Olivo (Steven) and Elizabeth A. Katzing (William), all of Danbury; his grandsons, Nicholas M. Olivo, Emiliano E. Katzing and Esteban E. Katzing, all of Danbury; his brothers and their wives, Ronald E. Naves (Sue) of Carmel, New York, and Paul F. Naves (Betty) of Danbury; his sisters-in-law, Mary Louise Russell of Umatilla, Florida, Joan Adkins of Lake City, Florida, and Zee Sawyer of Tallahassee, Florida; his aunt, Dora Naves of Marlboro, Massachusetts; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at St. Edward the Confessor Church, New Fairfield. Interment will follow in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury.

Friends will be received from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, September 23, 2016 at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury.

For further information or to express your condolences online, go to www.thegreenfuneralhome.com