Gerald "Jerry" G. Magnan

Born in Providence, he moved to Idaho in 1971 and to Massachusetts in 1974 where he would live until his passing.

He was the son of the late George A. Magnan and Doris M. (Cook) Magnan.

Jerry worked as a Professor of Mathematics at Bristol Community College for over 48 years before his retirement and was awarded the BCC Professor Emeritus of Mathematics in 2006. He was a graduate of LaSalle Academy class of 1961 and went on to attend Rhode Island College where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a major in science and minor in mathematics in 1965 and a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics in 1968. He received his Doctorate of Arts in Mathematics degree in 1973 from Idaho State University.

Jerry also taught for; Cranston West Junior/Senior High School from September 1965 to June 1966, Adult Basic Education at Cranston High School East from January to June of 1966, he was the Graduate Assistant in the Mathematics Department at Rhode Island College from September 1967 to June 1968, a part time Instructor of Mathematics at Idaho State University from September to December of 1973 and at Roger William University through various years in the 1970s and 1980s.

He was a member of various associations; American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC), New England Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (NEMATYC), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Bristol Community College Chapter (BrCCC) of Massachusetts Community College Council (MCCC)/MTA/NEA and was the Treasurer of BrCCC from 1976 to 1986.

Jerry was an Ordained Minister through the Universal Life Church, Modesto, CA and a member of the International Odd Sockers, LaSalle Academy Alumni Association, RIC Alumni Association and the Idaho State University Alumni Association. At various times, he was a member of the Battleship Cove Yacht Club and a member of their Board of Directors for many years, and the Tiverton and Somerset Yacht Clubs. He was also a member of the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Museum, the Fall River Marine Museum, the Providence, RI Fire Museum, the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River and the Battleship Cove-America’s Fleet Museum, Fall River, MA.

Jerry had a great love for sailing and was a proud owner of a Sunfish, an O’Day Daysailer and an O’Day 19. For 20 years, he worked as a crew member on many of his friends sailboats and would partake in sailboat races. He enjoyed skiing in New England, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Europe and travelling to Canada, Mexico and throughout Europe and the Unites States. He was also fond of tennis, volleyball, reading, walking and dining with friends.

He was a member of the Rhode Island Air National Guard and Reserve of the US Air Force from June 27, 1966 to June 26, 1972. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He is survived by his life partner, Nancy Viveiros of Swansea, Sheilah Pacheco and her late husband, Manny and grandchildren, Joshua and Amanda, brother, Donald and his late wife Betty of Wallingford, CT, and one sister, Lorraine Hulton and her husband Chester of West Warwick, RI. He is also survived by his nephews, Christopher Magnan and David Hulton and his wife Nancy, Doreen Vandal and her late husband LTG Thomas Vandal, and Donna Horlbogen and her husband Scott. He was much loved by his many great nieces and nephews, Nicholas, Eric and Stephen Vandal, Aaron and Alex Horlbogen, Rachel (Hulton) Corey, Tyler and Nicholas Hulton, great-great niece and nephew, Emma Jane and Thomas Jeffrey Vandal and one cousin, Geri (McLaughlin) Leach. Jerry will be greatly missed by his many loyal friends.

A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 8:30 AM from Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Road, Swansea, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Bernard’s Church, 30 Main Street, Assonet at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Burial will be private. Please honor Jerry with a random act of kindness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Operation Stand Down Rhode Island at http://osdri.org or mail donations to 1010 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919.