I am so sorry that I only learned today of Gerard's passing...he was a first cousin of my late father, Charles Anthony Mc Nelis (Gerard's mother was born Veronica Keeney, a sister of my Dad's mother Alice Keeney)...as I was growing up in Yonkers and then as a young newlywed in Bronxville, it was always a pleasure to reconnect with Gerard at family events and discuss our surprisingly large number of things in common...sports...history...the merits of our mutual Jesuit education...family tree research, to include our common Keeney ancestors...I will always recall him going out of his way at my father's 2018 interment to offer words of sincerely eloquent consolation...for a man I met far too few times in my life, he generated a resounding impression and I will always be grateful for that...my belated sympathies to his family.

Patrick Mc Nelis
Holmdel, NJ & Ocean View, DE

My condolences on the passing of this 🙏 great man from my youth he truly had a gift for inspiration and thought ,as one of his students he always helped us to think outside the box and be a  Renaissance man.Thank you for allowing me to be your student .Bryan Fews class of 1982

Also an honor to have dinner with him at DWC Alumni Dinner 2022.
Which I had the privilege of Gerard including me in Alumni Profiles.
We will all miss the  educator, historian, and honorary member of the alumni association board.

Condolences on loss of DWC resident Historian, Gerard Pelisson.
Each month Gerard would email me DWC Notable Alumni Book.
Which begun, With my compliments, and we had discussions on.

I was a student in Mr. Pelisson's world history class in 1972.  The students affectionately referred to him as Mr. Pelican.  He was a young man with a full head of hair and a lot of enthusiasm for history.  Decades later I saw his name in a DWC newsletter, and inquired if it was the same guy who taught history back in the 1970's.  To my amazement he looked through his records (yes, he apparently maintained student report cards) and noted that I was one of his best students back then.   Personally, I had a less than favorable relationship with DWC High School as the school was neither academic nor safe nor fun back then, and anyone who had friends attending neighboring Bronx Science had a chip on their shoulders.  But Mr. Pelisson made me realize how much I grew from the DWC experience, and I began contributing to the Scholarship Fund.   I finally attended a reunion (my 50th anniversary) last year and, unfortunately, he was unable to attend. So, I never got to thank him in person for helping me recognize how the DWC experience became one of the driving forces in my life.  Now, let me take the time to thank and honor you Mr. Pelican (Pelisson), the best history teacher a student and young man could ever ask for.  Rest in peace.  Sincerely, Gregg S. Wolpert (Class of 1973).

Gerry was my friend, colleague and co-author.  He was a master teacher when we met in the Social Studies department of DeWitt Clinton High School.  Since the late 1960's, he and I "threatened" to write a book about the school.  Gerry always said, "We wrote a great book!"  I am proud to have shared what I know was one of Gerry's  most treasured accomplishments.  

He was also a master family man.  His wife, Margaret, sons and grandchildren were always a topic of conversation. 

Gerry went away too soon. We will always miss him. 

Rest in peace, Gerry.

My sincere condolences to the family.  Mr. Pelisson was my Geography teacher at DWC and we later reconnected when he was working on The Castle On The Parkway.  I was quite flattered when he included me in both the book and his periodic listing of Distinguished Alumni.  Mr. Pelisson had a strong positive impact on my high school education, he was an engaging and caring teacher, and later in my professional career with his encouragement.  He was an outstanding teacher and from the family images, an outstanding family man too. He has left a great legacy for us all to remember him.

To know Mr. Pelisson was to love Mr. Pelisson. From the moment we met, it was as if I had known him forever.  

Mr. Pelisson and I shared many things in common, but our love for DeWitt Clinton High School, the Castle on the Parkway, cemented our bond and friendship for 15 years. 

Mr. Pelisson was my role model and hero. He was always there to pick me up and give me the best possible advice during the most turbulent times to the most enriching. 

I will never have another mentor like Mr. Pelisson again. Words will never be able to express how much he meant to me. 

To Mrs. Pelisson and the entire Pelisson family, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. My sincerest condolences.

I never had the chance to meet him. I graduated from Clinton in 1997, but knew of him because of his work on the alumni board.  I truly believe the young boys who come out of Clinton are cut from a different cloth & grow to be even greater men.  May his family have peace & comfort during this time & remember that our loved ones never truly leave us #clintonforever

Dear Margaret & Family,
We were heartbroken to read the news of Gerry's passing, especially after all he has been through.  It is so hard to find the right words at this time .  I recall reading his impressive book with total awe of his attention to detail.  Of course , we will always remember the day we spent together at Yankee Stadium.  
May your fond memories and the support of your family sustain you through this very sad and unexpected time in your life.  He was truly a Prince of a Man.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family.
Sincerely,
Jo-Ann & Michael D'Angelo

Gerard Pelisson was one of the first individuals who greeted me when I arrived at DeWitt Clinton High School, as the third principal in the 2016-17 school year.  

His first words to me became the strength inside me to fulfill the needs of this community.  He helped me understand the value of this great institution and the importance of preserving its legacy.  I am forever indebted to Gerard for fighting the battles needed to sustain this school's rich history in the face of insurmountable pressure.  

I will never forget the words he spoke to me: “You are the most important person to ever step into DeWitt Clinton High School, you are our last hope”

There will never be another Gerard Pellison.  A former English Teacher at DeWitt Clinton, Honorary Alumni Board Member, Historian, and Honorary Inductee to the DeWitt Clinton Teacher Wall of Fame.  

He will forever be missed, but his legacy will remain within the walls of DeWitt Clinton High School.  

My deepest condonances on the Pellison Family’s loss.   We will miss him beyond measure and will forever be indebted for his service to DeWitt Clinton High School. 

My sincerest condolences, 

Pierre Orbe 
Principal 
DeWitt Clinton High School

I am a graduate of the 1950 DWC class.

Sending condolences to the Pelisson family and to let them know
that I appreciated everything that was being sent to me by the Alumni Assn. which he was very close to.

My copy of The Castle On The Parkway is prominent on a table in
the living room of my home in Delray Beach, Florida.  He and Mr.
James Garvey did a marvelous job in keeping the tradition of the
school alive with this book.
                                                                         Morton Smith

Our deepest condolences to the entire family. My family is truly grateful for Gerald’s help in researching and getting my grandfather's well -deserved diploma a few years ago.  Grandpa would have been a 1943 graduate, but left early for the war. We provided Gerald all the proof, and  with his help and the school’s assistance- we secured his diploma.  We then threw him a big graduation ceremony with a cap, gown , sash, tell, school hat, and party with 30 relatives in CA. It was unforgettable, and the greatest moment in his life he said.  We are truly appreciative for Gerald’s help in helping a classmate achieve his dream over 75 years later.  Grandpa is now 97 and still going strong. He loved his time at the school.  Thank you Gerald for all you did. We are forever in your debt. RIP and thank you for positively impacting so many lives.

Dear Friends,

I am stunned by the tragic news of Gerry’s passing. As his Chairman, I can attest to how incredibly gifted he was as a teacher.
However, his greatest gift to all of us was his love of De Witt Clinton High School.
Without his tireless efforts , much of Clinton’s great history would be lost forever. Like you, I looked forward to receiving the Alumni Newsletter and learning about what a truly unique school Clinton is.
We extend our prayers and condolences to Margaret his children and grandchildren. 
May God bless his soul and may the perpetual light shine on him!

Sincerely,
Angelo & Ellen Purcigliotti

My deepest condolences to the Pelisson family. I have thanked him before. But, I want to thank him again for keeping my father's legacy alive at DeWitt Clinton.

Gerard was such a wonderful man, and he will be greatly missed. 

Dana Frank

He was an awesome gentleman who will be sorely missed!  RIP Mr. Pelisson!

Saddened to hear of Gerard’s passing. A great man. I worked closely with him on The Castle on the Parkway and introduced him to desktop publishing. A true friend and I miss him already.

As a DWC graduate in 69', I never had Mr. Pelisson, however, a few years ago, I contacted him to see if he could get me in contact with Mrs. Morrison (Ed Morrison's wife)-my 5th grade teacher from PS-91. He was instrumental in getting me and my wife together with both Francis and Ed Morrison a short while afterwards, which was one of the most memorable experiences I have had in my lifetime.

Thanks and a fond farewell to a kind and caring person -that went out of his way and provided us all with a once in a lifetime joyous moment we will never forget.

Eli Dolinsky 69'

Worked together for many years at DWC. He was a scholar and a gentleman.

Gerard was a dear friend whose life was marked by dedication and devotion to his family, church, Fordham University and De Witt Clinton High School.  His commitment to Clinton, in my opinion, preserved that school and its rich heritage, despite efforts by the New York City Board of Education to revamp it.  The Castle on the Parkway, written with James Garvey, chronicles the history of the school that influenced so many.  Deep into retirement Gerard maintained ties to the school, researching, writing, editing, and distributing a newsletter that created and rekindled endless connections and memories for Governors near and far.

RIP, Gerard

Ed Schwartz

OBITUARY

Gerard J. Pelisson

July 31, 1943 – December 7, 2023

Edwin L. Bennett Funeral Homes

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