Gerald McGladrigan
Gerald D. McGladrigan, 85, formerly of Orange, died peacefully on March 15, 2013 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in July 1927 to John and Alice McGladrigan. Gerald married Margaret Rae King in 1951 Belfast, NI.
Before leaving Ireland, Gerald was an accomplished soccer player and was drafted to play in the semi-pro league. He and his wife emigrated to America in 1956, and settled in Milford, CT. where they lived for 18 years. He was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. Mary’s Church and was active in both local and Connecticut state politics.
He was a popular Alderman in Milford for several years and was later appointed to the Milford Police Commission and served on various town committees. He served the community of Orange, CT, where he lived for thirty years, as a member of the Democratic Town Committee and the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals.
Gerald attended Belfast College, Belfast, NI. He had a successful career in sales for major steel companies in the Northeast, most notably National Rolling Mills and he later retired from Worthington Steel.
In his retirement years, he enjoyed time with his family, volunteered at the soup kitchen in New Haven, CT and worked part-time as a starter at Yale Golf Course. Gerald was an avid golfer and achieved the golfers dream with a hole-in-one at Madison County Club in 1990.
Gerald brought smiles wherever he went. If he did not have a friend when he entered a room, he had many by the time he left.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters and brothers-in-law Eileen Pomerleau (Gene), Alicia MacAdory (William) and his brother John McGladrigan. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margaret Rae, of Clemmons, NC, his children, Geraldine McGladrigan (Gerard Bessenaire) Middletown, CT, Sharon McGladrigan, New Haven, CT, Moira (Patrick) Colangelo, Stamford, CT, Paul (Betty) McGladrigan, North Andover, MA, Maureen Kornowa, Buford, GA, Aileen (Mark) DeFeo, Orange, Teresa (Michael) McHugh, Winston-Salem, NC, his sister Moira Finnegan, Glastonbury, CT and his loving niece Maureen (Morris) Bogan, New Haven, CT.
In addition, he is survived by his 15 grandchildren, Chris Holmberg, Timothy Holmberg and Jennifer Bannon, Conor, Colin and Clare McGladrigan, Brian, Sarah and Daniel DeFeo, Erin, Allison, Elizabeth and Michael McHugh; Marley and Mallory Kornowa; and two great-grandchildren, Ryan and Jacob Bannon along with many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass for Gerald will be celebrated at The Holy Infant Church, 450 Race Brook Rd, Orange, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 23.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and “The Hole in The Wall Gang” (a camp for children with serious illnesses).
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