Gerald S. Rourke Jr.

Gerald S. Rourke, Jr. (Jerry), 45, of Brooklyn NY, formerly of Potomac, MD, passed away April 2, 2012. He was born December 26, 1966, in Washington D.C. to Gerald and Joyce (Gleason) Rourke. Jerry is survived by his loving parents and three sisters: Dr. Elizabeth Rourke and her husband Christopher Avery of Brookline, MA; Katherine Bonnem and her husband, Joseph of Bronxville, NY; and Anne Rourke of Hamden, CT. He is also survived by four nieces and one nephew: Sarah, Anna and Lily Bonnem and Katherine and John Avery, as well as his former wife Nicole Huang of Brooklyn, NY, and beloved dog, Loki.
Jerry grew up in River Falls in Potomac and attended Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD. He graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio with a bachelor's degree in History and English. He later obtained a master's degree in History and Fine Arts from New York University.
Jerry had an adventurous spirit, living in Colorado, San Francisco and Berlin, Germany, before settling in Brooklyn to pursue his love of film and writing. He participated in making independent films with his close-knit group of friends in New York, both in acting and then writing his own screenplay. He had a great wit and poetic soul which showed through in the written word. Jerry also completed a children's book and his greatest work, a novel, just days before his death.
Jerry was an intellectual and could often be found reading military or political history and mystery novels. But he loved a good contest off the page as well. He was a great fan of soccer and played it all his life. Jerry was also a football fan, though his teams, the Redskins and Jets, left him frustrated more often than not.
One of his greatest pleasures was the most simple. Jerry was a great walker. When dealing with writer's block or sorting through struggles great and small, he would go out for a walk. Those long legs served him well. He could often be found taking in the sights and sounds of Brooklyn or exploring the hiking trails of Connecticut. Loki was, of course, often by his side.
Jerry's generous nature, sense of humor and easy smile were always reflected in his words and deeds. He loved nothing more than to make others laugh, something at which he excelled. His friends and family were always his first priority. He considered friends and cousins to be his brothers and sisters. One of his greatest joys was being a loving uncle. Jerry was a true gentleman.
The sudden and tragic nature of his accidental death has left his family and friends overwhelmed and inconsolable. For everyone who knew him, a great light has gone out of this world.
Family will receive friends from 5 to 8 PM, Friday, April 13, 2012 at the Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Rd, Madison CT. Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at 11 AM on Saturday, April 14 at St. Margaret Church, Academy Street, Madison CT. A reception will follow at the Surf Club in Madison. Please visit www.swanfuneralhomemadison.com to view memorial tributes to Jerry. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC), 253 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211 or www.barcshelter.org in memory of Jerry Rourke.