Obituaries

Former Wayne Township Council President Dies at 92

Jerry Porter was involved in town governance and volunteer activities throughout his life.

The following obituary is courtesy of Vander May Funeral Home.

Gerard “Jerry” J. Porter, Sr. age 92, a lifelong resident of Wayne, passed peacefully at home with the comfort of family by his side, on Saturday, July 5, 2014. He resided in the Packanack Lake Community within the township for almost 70 years.

Jerry, as most knew him, was extremely dedicated to the governance of Wayne Township. He was elected to the Wayne Town Council for four consecutive terms in the Third Ward and was chosen Council President three times during his twenty years of service. He served four years as a Regular Member to the Library Board and served one year as President, served six years as a member of the Planning Board and one year as Chairperson, served four years on the Wayne Township Budget Committee, acted as Council liaison to the Library Board for two years, served as Council liaison to the Planning Board for two years, was appointed to the Preakness Health Care Center Board for three years and was President of the Board for one year, was elected to the Saint Joseph Health Care Board for three years, member of the Straight and Narrow Board of Managers in Paterson, and volunteered at Eva’s Kitchen’s Food Pantry in Paterson.

He was a long time parishioner, Eucharistic Minister, and was active with the school at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church in Wayne. His assistance with the church’s basketball program earned him the nickname “Coach.” He was also a longstanding member of the Knights of Columbus, Chapter 1020 and the Paterson Diocesan Tithing Program.

Jerry was instrumental in founding many of the sports programs in the Packanack Lake Community in Wayne. He was a member of the Packanack Golf Club for many years.

Jerry served in the United States Army and was a veteran of WWII. Although he only had one good eye he served in the infantry and artillery divisions. Before being honorably discharged in December of 1945, he received the American Theatre Ribbon, the European African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. He was a member of the American legion Post 174 and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He met the love of her life Doris Welle when she was dating a basketball player. Jerry saw her and wouldn’t take no for an answer – hard to believe when you know Gerry - when requesting a date. Doris finally gave in and they went to a “ring dance” and then to a fancy restaurant in Wayne named the “Alps Manor”(on Alps Road)on their first date. Jerry was 21 and Doris was 17 when they married. They honeymooned in Atlantic City and celebrated their wedding at the “Fork and Spoon” a famous restaurant in Atlantic City which is still in business. Jerry was already serving in the Army during WWII when they married, and they had their first child, Joann (Porter) Mauer, which he did not find out about for some time as the mail service was slow during the war.

Jerry was the loving husband of the late Doris B. (nee Welle) Porter (April 2013); devoted father of JoAnn M. Maurer and her husband Robert of Newtown, CT, Tim Porter of Wayne, Gerard “Skip” Porter and his wife Mary of Wayne, Jayne Elizabeth Baskin and her husband Ron of Atlanta, GA, Doris B. Porter of Atlanta, GA, Thomas Porter and his wife Lisa of Haledon, Patrick Porter and his wife Carole of Wayne, and the late Debbie Porter (2008); cherished grandfather of ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; loved brother of the late Walter J. Porter (2013) and the late Geraldine George.

Friends may visit with the family from 7-9 PM on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 and 4-8PM on Wednesday July 9, 2014 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.

Funeral services will be held 9:30 AM on Thursday, July 10, 2014 from the funeral home then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, 580 Ratzer Road where a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.

Interment will be in Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Packanack Fire Company #5, 5 Lake Drive West, Wayne, NJ 07470 or the Passaic Valley Hospice, 783 Riverview Drive, Totowa, NJ 07511 would be appreciated.


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