Gerald R. Menapace

BEL AIR, Md. -- Gerald Robert "Jerry" Menapace, 73, passed away Sunday, May 27, 2007, at his home in Bel Air due to a heart attack.
Mr. Menapace, also known as "Pal," was born in Atlas, Pa., and graduated from the public schools there. He was the son of the late Jacob Lewis Menapace and Lena (Ficca) Menapace.
He spent four years in the Navy, serving in Africa during the Korean War as a radio operator. When he was discharged, he moved to Baltimore with his wife, the former Lena Griffith, who preceded him in death.
In 1954, Mr. Menapace was working at the Goetz packing plant in Baltimore when he began his union career. At age 22, he became president of the local unit of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butchers Workmen. He was elected an international vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers after it was formed in 1979 and was director of the retail division for seven years. He spent the next nine years as secretary-treasurer of the UFCW International, the second highest office. He retired in 1995.
He did not attend college, but Mr. Menapace completed a two-program in labor relations at Harvard University.
He became involved in the struggle for racial equality in Baltimore and supported other civil rights causes. He met his second wife, the former Jeanne Dawson, when she and a group of other women were protesting the high price of meat at grocery stores. Mr. Menapace also supported Democratic Party causes and raised money for Franklin Square Hospital Center.
He was a member of St. Margaret Roman Catholic Church, Bel Air.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Dawson Menapace; his children, David Menapace of Waynesboro, Pa., Kathleen Menapace of Baltimore, Danny Menapace of Cumberland, Elizabeth Stewart of Huntington, W.Va., Martin Menapace of Hapeville, Ga., Douglas Menapace of Phoenix, Md., Jeffrey Menapace of Hawthorne, N.J., and Steven Menapace of Bel Air; his brother, Robert Menapace of Northumberland, Pa.; his sister, Jacqueline "Jackie" Bolger of Roslyn, Pa.; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Joan A. Kent.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the C.J. Lucas Funeral Home, 27 Vine St., Mount Carmel, Pa., where the funeral will be conducted at 1.
Interment will be in All Saints Cemetery, Elysburg, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Jerry Menapace to St. John's Lutheran Church, 3911 Sweet Air Road, Phoenix, MD 21131.