Gerald F. Gawronski

Gerald Francis Gawronski passed away peacefully on March 31, 2025 at 89 years old. He did not suffer a lengthy illness.
Gerry was born on February 5, 1936, in Dunkirk, NY to Mr. Francis and Mrs. Josephine Gawronski. Gerry recently moved to Winter Park, FL from Hilton Head, SC where he and his lovely wife of almost 65 years, Madonna Gawronski lived for 30 years until her death on May 26, 2022.
As a Depression-era baby growing up in Dunkirk, Gerry and his brother Raymond began working in the fields at the age of six, picking berries and beans to help their family financially. This hard labor imbued the Gawronski boys with a strong work ethic and the value of financial security at a very young age. These lessons motivated them for the rest of their lives, contributing significantly to each becoming a successful executive in their respective careers.
Gerry met his lovely wife, Madonna, in 1955 at his brother's wedding. On July 27, 1957, Gerry and Madonna wed. They moved to Erie, PA to start their new life and immediately began what would become a family with seven children. On May 10, 1958, they had their first child. Within 5 years, they had 5 of their 7 children! Thanks to their work ethic, their big, raucous family never wanted for any necessity despite living on a tight budget.
Gerry assiduously pursued his career to ensure the security of his family even as he modeled the behavior of a loving father to each of his children and to his exceptionally supportive wife. He was always engaging his children in adventures, games, and yardwork outdoors. He lovingly turned everything into a competition among his children. Many weekends were spent water skiing with the family behind the boat named "Nineofus." He came to snow skiing in his 40's. After some bruising early outings, he became an avid skier well into his 80's. The joy he took in skiing has been shared across generations of his family many of whom have perilous stories to tell about skiing with "Papa." Gerry always looked for hiking opportunities with his children to help them appreciate the great outdoors and the wear them out. As for yardwork, woe to anyone in the family room on a Saturday morning. While Gerry and Madonna loved their community in Hilton Head, their love nest in retirement was their mountain cabin in Lake Toxaway, NC.
After graduating from Dunkirk High School, Gerry followed his brother Ray to St Bonaventure University, where he earned a degree in accounting. Gerry paid his way through college. Upon graduating from St Bonaventure, Gerry began his successful career at GTE (Verizon). He started at GTE in Erie, PA in 1957. In 1968, Gerry was promoted to Controller and again to Vice President of Finance for the Southeast Region of GTE in Durham, NC. In 1976, Gerry was promoted to Corporate Vice President of Finance for Telephone Operations at its headquarters in Stamford, Ct. In 1986, Gerry and Madonna made their final career move to Ft Wayne, Indiana where he was named the Vice President and General Manager for GTE-Indiana. Gerry retired as a successful executive in 1992. Having raised seven children and secured their future, he and Madonna moved to Hilton Head, SC where they lived blissfully until Madonna's passing in 2022.
Gerry and Madonna made the most of retirement. From there home based in Long Cove in Hilton Head, SC, they traveled extensively throughout the world. They also traveled to share in the lives of the families of each of their seven children who were scattered across the country. Gerry worked extensively with Habitat for Humanity in Hilton Head putting his knack for carpentry to good use. He also served his parish, St. Francis by the Sea.
Soon after Madonna's passing in May 2022, Gerry moved to Westminster Retirement Community in Winter Park. The community's social aspect and caring staff made for an easy transition for Gerry. It did not hurt the smooth transition that almost immediately upon moving in, he met Connie Chapdelaine, and the two developed a fast and deep friendship.
Gerry had a great life.
Gerald Gawronski is survived by his brother Raymond Gawronski and Ray's wife, Mary Catherine. His sister-in-law Sr. Geraldine Murray. He is also survived by five of his seven children including Tom Gawronski and his wife Alice, Mary Kelly and her husband Chris, Jim Gawronski and his wife Daron, Bob Gawronski, Joe Gawronski and his wife Nicole and Shannon Gawronski, the surviving wife of John Gawronski. Gerry is also survived by his 19 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Madonna (May, 2022), and two of his children, Bill (August, 1979), and John (April, 2024).
Memorial services for Gerald will be held at DeGusipe Funeral Home in Maitland, FL on April 8th at 4:00 PM and a Funeral Mass held at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park, FL. at 2:00 PM. Gerry will be interred next to his wife Madonna and his son Bill at the Long Ridge Union Cemetery in Stamford, CT at a gravesite he and his wife purchased at Bill's passing in 1979 at 17 years old.
In memory of John Gawronski who died last year of ALS, in lieu of flowers, please donate to the ALS Association at www.als.org