Obituary of Gerald F. McLaughlin

Elmira:  Jerry, at the age of 95 died peacefully on Saturday, December 2, 2023, surrounded by his loving and devoted family.  He was born in Hornell NY, the son of the late Patrick G. and Angela (Carey) McLaughlin.  Besides his parents he was predeceased by his beloved wife Rosemarie DiNardo McLaughlin, sister Rosemary Creenan of Buffalo NY; sisters-in-law, Angela Sgro and Lucy Sgro of Elmira; brother-in-law Michael DiNardo of Rochester NY.

Jerry is survived by his brother Joseph P. McLaughlin (Myrna) of Lakeside CA; children, Patricia Samuels of Boerne TX, Sean McLaughlin of Panama City Beach FL, Eileen Robbins (Rick) of Elmira, Seamus McLaughlin of Big Flats NY; brothers-in-law, Anthony and Dominic Sgro of Elmira; grandsons, Jason Samuels (Jenna), Ryan Samuels (Kelly), and Kyle Robbins, all of Elmira; granddaughters, Elizabeth Robbins of Elmira, Briede Shaff, Eileen McLaughlin, Michaline McLaughlin, all of Syracuse NY; great grandchildren, Lucia, Sophia and Sean Shaff of Newfield NY, Grayson Samuels and Roary May Samuels of Elmira, Maira McLaughlin of Syracuse NY, Dominic, Vantroy, Clemente, Gianni, and Santino.

Jerry’s childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood was in Hornell, where in his early years his time was spent romping around the streets of Hornell’s bloody Fifth Ward and surrounding areas, cycling up the Honey Run and Crosby Creek Roads, investigating the many wooded hills surrounding these roads, swimming in the pools of Crosby Creek with his many pals, and especially visiting Flanagin’s farm where they were always welcomed.

He attended Saint Ann’s Parochial Grade School, and Hornell High School where he was a fair student, but what really distinguished him were his abilities in sports, popularity, and his natural leadership traits.  While in his junior and senior years he lettered in track, football, and basketball.  In basketball he was named to the 1947 Steuben All County Five, and at the Rochester AA Region Sectionals he was in contention for the All Sectional Five but was narrowly beat out by a player from Geneva NY.  In his senior year he was highly honored to have been voted to the coveted office of Student Council President.

Upon graduating from HHS he was employed by the Erie Railroad as an electrician apprentice.  In November 1950, during the Korean War, he was drafted into the US Army where he faithfully served his country as a radio repairman with the 541^st Signal Depot Detachment located in Salzburg, Austria, where he attained the rank of Sargent.  He was honorably discharged in November 1952.

Upon returning home he completed his electrician apprenticeship with the Erie Railroad.  In July 1953 he accepted a position with the national Cash Register Company (now knows as the “NCR Corp.”) in its Hornell Sub Office.  In 1956 he was transferred to their branch office in Elmira.  While in Elmira, in his spare time, he obtained a real estate broker’s license, and established an office that he successfully managed for fifteen years.  In August 1990, after 37 years of faithful service, he retired from NCR as a Senior Field Engineer.

In 1958 Jerry married Rosemarie DiNardo and settled in their home in Elmira.  Jerry was a devout Catholic and long-time member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Elmira and participated in many affiliated organizations:  The Fraternity of Saint Dominic in the Province of St. Joseph, USA, where he served as past president of the Elmira chapter, president of its region three and member of its Provincial Council.  He was a long-time member of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at St. Casimir’s Parish in Elmira, and a past president of the parish council of St. Patrick’s parish in Elmira.  Preceding his death Jerry was the oldest living past president of the Msgr. John J. Lee Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Elmira and was a loyal member since 1967.  He was also a proud member of the American Legion and a dedicated friend of The Center for Mark Twain Studies at Elmira College.

In his later years, Jerry thoroughly enjoyed reading, writing, studying the history of Ireland, improving his English grammar, praying The Liturgy of The Hours according to The Roman Rite, playing euchre with family, and, of course, maintaining their lovely home and grounds in Elmira.

Jerry was typical Irish:

The utterly impractical, never predictable,

Something irascible, quite inexplicable Irish.

Strange blend of shyness, pride and conceit,

And a stubborn refusal to bow in defeat.

He was spoiling and ready to argue and fight,

Yet the smile of a child filled his soul with delight.

His eyes were the quickest to well up in tears,

Yet his strength was the strongest to banish your fears.

His faith was as fierce as his devotion was grand,

And there was no middle ground on which he would stand.

He was wild and he was gentle.

He was good and he was bad.

He was proud and he was humble.

He was happy and he was sad.

He was in love with the ocean, the earth and the skies.

He was enamored with beauty wherever it lies.

He was victor and victim, a star, and a clod,

But mostly he was Irish in love with his God.

Family and friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W Water Street, Elmira, on Monday, December 11, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 9:45 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., St. Patrick’s Church, 604 Park Place, Elmira.  A livestream of the Mass will be available through the Facebook page for Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish (https://www.facebook.com/ElmiraCatholic).  Military honors will be accorded outside of the church after the Mass.  Interment will then take place at the Bath National Cemetery, Bath NY.

The A.O.H. will meet at McInerny Funeral Home on Monday evening, at 6:00 p.m., to conduct a service for our brother Jerry.  Signed, Fran Whitford, President