Dr. Eddy Pierre-Jerome

Eddy Pierre-Jerome was born November 24, 1956 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He was the second of three children born to Gerard and Gabrielle Pierre-Jerome, younger brother to Yardley and older brother to Frantz. The Pierre-Jerome family moved to Zion, Illinois when Eddy was three years old. As a youth, he was passionate and active in pursuing activities he enjoyed—a characteristic that would prove to animate all of his life. He was involved in boy scouts, ran track and played football. After graduating from Carmel High School in Mundelein, Illinois, he went on to receive a bachelor of arts in Biological Science from Southern Illinois University in 1980. At that point, he made the daring decision to attend dental school in Tamaulipas, Mexico. It was here that he met a fellow dental student, Margarita, who later became his wife of fifteen years, and mother to his four daughters: Erika, Edith, Melissa and Cassandra. In 1985, having just completed dental school and eager to support his growing family, he returned to the United States and joined the Navy. In addition to rising from enlisted to Officer, he also obtained his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania Dental School in 1997. In 2000, after fifteen years of service, he retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant. Eddy kept active in his retirement years. Along with working at the VA, he continued to be a loving father, a devoted son, a partner and friend. He was a senior Olympics competitor—winning bronze, silver and gold throughout his Olympic career. He was a nature lover, a kayaker, a nationwide flea market enthusiast, an animal lover, an antique vehicle collector—the girls have memories of him camping in his 1972 VW bus. And of course, he was a vintage dirt bike racer. Eddy was a lover of motorbikes: he had his first motorcycle before he had a car. His active passion showed up as it did in the rest of his life: despite the circumstances—bike failing, weather conditions, accidents—Eddy persevered, he always finished a race. Even when his bike didn't. He was truly a free spirit: always giving all he could to his daughters, but also to all around him. His generosity and selflessness attracted friends in any project, sport or activity he engaged in. He was enthusiastic about life. Words cannot capture how absolutely supportive and proud of his daughters he was, and continues to be, in all aspects of their lives. It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Eddy: son, father, friend, and partner. Yet it is also with faithful hearts that we continue to feel him near, showing up as always, yet in different ways. With all our love, we say goodbye for now, until we meet again. With heavy hearts and tear filled eyes 
family and friends bid you goodbye.
 Gathered this day united in sorrow,
 yet sure in faith of a brighter tomorrow.

 Although you've gone, we feel you near.
 You are so loved by everyone here.
 You touched our lives in numerous ways.
 and brightened so many of our days.

 Sharing memories of time with you
 is something that we love to do.
 We laugh, we cry, with joy and pain.
 Goodbye for now, until we meet again. -Heavy Hearts by Ron Tranmer