John Gerard Breen

1927 - 2014
John Gerard Breen was born June 29th, 1927 and died at home September 25th, 2014 in Delhi, NY. Gerry leaves the love of his life Lilly Breen (who was nuts about him), daughter Sue (husband Steve Thomas), son Gerry, Jr. (wife Laura), daughter Nora (husband Mark Edwards), son Patrick (wife Betty Robb), son Donald (wife Tammy Phoenix) and four granddaughters, Natasha Breen, Katie and Rebecca Thomas, Rosemary Mae Breen and grandson Spencer Gransbury. He also leaves behind his extended family of David Martin, Tav Daly, Junior & Linden Jackson. Gerry and Lilly were married 56 wonderful years and had the love story of a lifetime. He will be missed by them all.
Gerry grew up in Hackensack, NJ, attended Hackensack High School and starred on the 1945 State Championship teams in football (Captain), basketball and baseball. He graduated from Yale University where he played basketball and baseball. The basketball team was ranked 10th in the nation and the baseball team played in the 1948 College World Series Final. After Yale, Gerry got his Masters degree from Columbia University and later his Doctorate from The Union Graduate School.
Gerry was drafted during the war and worked as a weatherman in the Air Corp. After Yale, while studying at the Seminary, Gerry was chosen to work at Boy's Town where he discovered he loved working with under-privileged youth. He worked at the Job Corp in New Bedford, MA run by IBM and then went on to run Training Resources for Youth (TRY) in Brooklyn, NY. He moved his family to Delhi, NY where he brought graduates from TRY to attend SUNY Delhi in 1969.
Gerry taught Sociology at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY for twenty years when he retired professor emeritus. He also taught at Greenhaven, a maximum security Federal prison. He was everyone's favorite professor – because he didn't teach from the textbook. He taught about life and the sociology of life's lessons. He avidly read the NY Times every day. He was the tennis coach at Marist College and tennis became another passion. He and Lilly were NY State Senior Games Doubles champions. Gerry took great pleasure playing with his kids and their friends; whether it was taking them skiing or to tennis tournaments, playing pick-up baseball games, camping or canoeing. He loved getting children involved.
Gerry firmly believed in helping others learn to help themselves. He was a believer in equal rights before it's time and participated in the Martin Luther King march on Washington. He taught his children to think about others first. He was a staunch Democrat who believed in opportunity for all.
As a devout Catholic, he tried to emulate Jesus by always giving to others, sharing what you have - your finances, your knowledge, your strength, your time & energy and your love.
Condolences & memories can be shared with the family at www.ottmanfuneralhome.com. Donations can be made in Gerry's honor to Boys Town at Boystown.org