In loving memory of Gerard Jude DeCristofaro

Obituary

Gerard DeCristofaro, age 61, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on November 24, 2021, at his home in Ocala, FL.

Jerry is survived by his partner Fiona Hehli (daughters Victoria and Natasha), his daughter Caitlin (husband Robert, sons Barret and Emmet), daughter Gabrielle (fiancé Wesley), daughter Mia (husband Phil), son Gerry (girlfriend Alex), son Jay (wife Cat), sister Sandy (son Matthew), and mother of his five children Kathy. He is preceded in death by his father Ralph DeCristofaro, Mother Antoinette DeCristofaro and brother Ralph DeCristofaro.

Jerry was born on January 13, 1960 in Newark, NJ to his parents Ralph and Antoinette. He graduated from Sayreville War Memorial High School in 1978 where he was a member of the high school wrestling team. In 1992, he moved to Spring Hill, FL where he would become lovingly known by many as the “cheesecake guy” supplying the residents of Spring Hill with cheesecakes for over twenty years. Jerry was also known as “Coach Jer” spending his free time coaching boys soccer and girls softball. Many players referred to him as everyone’s dad. And players from rival teams mentioned that he was always kind to you and asked how you were doing.

Jerry was a great family man and loving and devoted father and Pops. Jerry will be remembered as the kind of dad who never missed a school function, field trip or game. He was the kind of dad his kids knew they could call any time of day or night and he would answer. Whether it was for the advice you needed to hear but didn’t necessarily want to hear, to drive three hours to pick you up from Jacksonville or Tallahassee so you could come home for a few days, to have the entire Harry Potter series read to him, to sit and yell at the Arsenal game, get up at 5 am just to lose the first elimination game on a Sunday morning, or just talk to you while you were driving, he was always there. His children agree, that even if he had just met you, he treated you like family.

Jerry was a social man who loved to cook and entertain. He loved when he had a house full of people. Jerry loved watching soccer with his kids, driving, dancing with Fiona, BSing with anyone (he could literally carry a conversation with a wall), and loved messing with his kids. Jerry had a unique way of answering his phone depending on who was calling including “Hola, Child!” ,“Goobsta!”, “Yoooo!”

A viewing is scheduled for December 4, 2021 from noon to 2 pm at Baldwin Brothers A Funeral & Cremation Society. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS association.