Jerry Milan of Sparta, N.J., passed away on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, surrounded by family at his home after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was 71.
Jerry was born in Passaic, N.J., and was raised in Garfield, N.J., before moving to Montville N.J. He graduated Boonton High School.
During his early years, Jerry developed a lifelong love of horses and horsepower. He enjoyed taking his granddaughters on horseback riding excursions and admiring classic cars with the Wanderers Car Club at Jumboland, the Chatterbox, and other northern New Jersey locations.
A man of many talents, and always taking pride in his work, Jerry began his career at the Van Duyne Cider Mill as a young teenager. He later worked as a carpenter both privately and for Marc-Allen Associates, as a landscaper, and as head groundskeeper for the New Jersey Cardinals at Skylands Ballpark. During his time there, the field won recognition as best field in the league, which attracted the attention of the New York Yankees, who tried unsuccessfully to recruit him for their grounds crew. He finished his career as the head of building maintenance at the headquarters of Kearny Bank. His many loves included a good dad joke and trivia about classic television shows and music from the ‘50s and ‘60s. More than that, he loved his family and centered his life around them.Everyone who knew him knew that he could always be counted on to lend a helping hand.
Jerry was predeceased by his parents John and Vilma; and his brother John.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lois; son, Jeremy, his wife, Emily, and their daughters, Megan and Kayla, of Livingston, N.J.; daughters, Stacy of Sparta and Anna and her husband, Keith Oyer, and their daughters, Maddie, Lily, and Eva, of Milford, Pa.; sister, Cynthia Hudson of North Pole, Alaska; as well as numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
He took comfort in the hope found at Revelation 21:4, “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” Services will be held virtually.