Gerald "Jerry" Hallock

Gerald ("Jerry") William Hallock, aged 88, of Mahwah passed away to his heavenly
home on Sunday, November 23, 2025. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania to the
late Alton and Dorothy Hallock (nee Flesch).
Jerry, as one of the oldest of 18 children, his first job in the house was to tend to the
chicken coop and collect eggs each morning. He would also tend to his younger
siblings as part of "many hands make light work". In school, you always had "a Hallock
boy" or several in your classes. As he grew up, he worked at Marcal Paper in Elmwood
Park, NJ for several years until he realized his true calling was part of service and
trained to become a police officer. He worked as an officer in Union City and Fairview,
NJ for many years and retired as a Lieutenant Special Police in Fairview in 1982 due
to health reasons. During his time in Fairview, Jerry also founded Fairview's
Ambulance Corp in the mid-1970s. He had a love for helping his community and
everyone around him. Jerry continued his career as a truck driver and eventually
a Manager of Shipping for AEP Inc. After what he called "his real retirement", Jerry
could never sit still and worked as a crossing guard at his home corner in Westwood,
NJ for 5 years.
Jerry enlisted and served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War as a
Medical Helper from 1954 to 1956. He received the National Defense Service Medal
and was honorably discharged as A/3/C on May 25, 1956 from the 1607 th Air Transport
Wing at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. He continued to serve in the reserves
from June 1956 to September 1959.
Jerry was the type of guy who helped "everyone" and "anyone". He was very loving,
caring, devoted to his family, and community servant. When you talked with Jerry, it
was time to sit down to hear his life stories where most would only read from
a book. Those who knew Jerry would put in their "pound cake order" to enjoy along with
a cup of coffee during a visit. Yes, he made the BEST pound cake! He had saved
thousands of lives over his lifetime. He truly loved his community and helping people.
Jerry also enjoyed the weekends and the holidays at the home in Mt. Pocono,
PA. He loved spending time with his wife and girls, along with their friends and
family in the quiet country setting. The environment was their little piece of
heaven away from everyday life where relaxing beside a warm fire, cooking a
meal, mowing the grass with his tractor, or sitting on the backyard patio were the simple
pleasures of life.
A devoted family man, Jerry was widowed by his beloved wife, Barbara Hallock (nee
Ruggeri) of 56 years, in 2023. He is survived by his loving daughters, Jennifer
McDermott, and her husband Francis, and Nicole Hallock, his cherished grandchildren
Sean, Ryan and Nicholas McDermott, and caring siblings Donald, and his wife Dorothy,
Raymond, and his wife Pam, Joseph, and Lois Raub, and the late Fred Raub, and sister

in laws Virginia Polino, and the late Oto, Dianne Ruggeri, and the late John, brother in
law Vincent Ruggeri, and his wife Allison, and the late Alfred Ruggeri.
Many nieces, nephews, godchildren, and cousins also survive.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 28, 2025, from 4-7 PM and a service from 7-
8PM at Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff, NJ. On Saturday, November
29, 2025, at 11am, family and friends will gather for a flag ceremony and entombment to
follow in Fairview Mausoleum, Fairview, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations to the
American Heart Association www.heart.org are welcomed. If you prefer flowers, please call Fiesta
Florist at 201-941-7651.