Gerald T Elia

Gerald (Jerry) Elia, 72, of Atlantic Beach, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 25th after a year-long battle with cancer. Jerry was born in Paterson, New Jersey on February 5, 1945 to the late Paul and Kathleen Elia. In his early years, he was a lifeguard at Seaside Park at the Jersey Shore where he began his deep love of the beach. He attended Seton Hall University and became a Pershing Rifleman which led him to join the Army. He served with the 1/12th Airborne Infantry, First Cavalry in Vietnam from 1964-1966 and was awarded the Purple Heart. Jerry was a member of the Pipefitters Local 274 in New Jersey following his father's footsteps. He served as a volunteer fireman, fire Inspector and volunteer policeman in Wayne, NJ and was also the President of the Glen Rock Volunteer Fire Department in Glen Rock, NJ. He graduated from Thomas A. Edison College with a degree in Psychology. He moved to Florida in 1980 to work at Kennedy Space Center on a project for the space shuttle launch pad. After finishing that project, he went on to supervise several projects in the Caribbean Islands. He was a professional musician, having played the trumpet in multiple bands including The Jays, Indigo Blue and with the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corp.

His hobbies included fishing, surfing, hanging out on the beach with his 3rd Street family and was well known at The Fish Co. and many other beaches watering holes as the trumpet player with the straw hat and big smile.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy, his daughter, Lauren Lulli (Vinni), his son Paul Elia (Denise), his son Zachary Hannah, granddaughters Emily and Erin Elia, grandson Nick Lulli, his sister Kathleen Norton (Joe) ;nephews Joseph Norton, Brian Norton, Kevin Norton and John Norton and many other relatives and friends that were like family.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 6-8 p.m. at Hardage Giddens Funeral Home (Beaches Chapel), 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach. A graveside service with military honors will be on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd, Jacksonville, Fl 32218. A reception will follow the service at Emmaus Church, 3425 Sans Pareil St., Jacksonville, FL. 32224. Arrangements are under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. Please offer condolences at www.hardage-giddensbeacheschapel.com. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to any of the following:

Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni, 49 Sand Hill Road, Vernon, NJ 07462-3141, Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation, 100 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville, NC 28301 (www.asomf.org), K9s for Warriors, 114 Camp K9 Road, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081 (www.K9sforWarriors.org)