Gerard M Lavin

Gerard Aloysius Michael Lavin, a loving husband and father, and a revered business leader, passed away on Aug. 7, 2025, in Olathe, Kansas, at the age of 82. He was a good man, overflowing with generosity, faith and love. Jerry loved GOD, Ellen, their children and their grandchildren, and their families and friends.

Born on Oct. 8, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, Jerry grew up in a big, loving Catholic family, one of eight children of Gerard and Irene Lavin. He graduated from Brooklyn Prep high school and served honorably in the US Army for four years. He and Ellen were wed on Oct. 26, 1968, and their marriage endured for 57 years.

He cared deeply for the Catholic Church and was a quiet leader and generous benefactor of St. Rose of Lima parish in New York and Ascension parish in Kansas. He gave freely to many charities, especially Covenant House and Food for the Poor. He had participated in Mass and received Holy Communion almost every day for the past 50 years.

He loved Irish music and presided over the famed Lavin Family St. Patrick’s Day Party for several decades.

Jerry retired in 2016 after 60 years of work. He had served on various boards and was the CEO and president of several mutual-fund firms, investment-management companies and insurance companies. Jerry’s long and successful career was marked most by his unsurpassed work ethic, principled leadership, remarkable humility and genuine affection for (most of) his colleagues and customers.

He is survived by Wonderful Ellen, and children Mike, Kristin and Jorge, Jerry, Tim and Katie, and Bridget and Alex; by his dear grandchildren Michael, Brian, Matthew, Logan, Liam, Anabela, Quinn, Charlie, Becket, Ellie and Rose; by his sisters Mary, Claire, Kathy, and Joanne, and his brothers Kenny and David; and by his many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by Brian Lavin, Tony Dilauro, Geraldine Lavin, Katie Lavin, Sister Felicitas (Aunt Mary), and Sister Miriam de Sales (Aunt Helen).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Food for the Poor (https://foodforthepoor.org/). That would make him smile.

The world is better because Jerry was in it. Everyone whose life he touched learned love and generosity from him. His faith and love and compassion never stopped growing. We grieve his death, but celebrate his beautiful life. He stepped, threw, and followed through … aggressively.

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