Jerry H Jared

1945 - 2024

Jerry H. Jared, 78, passed away on February 28, 2024 at Miami Baptist Hospital due to complications of lung cancer. He was surrounded by his family at his side.

Jerry was born in Jacksonville, Florida on March 19, 1945 to Ed and Celeste Jared. His younger years were spent in Gainesville, Georgia, where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Judy Betts. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary together. Jerry and Judy had two sons, Todd and Tim. The family moved to England and Germany in the early years of Jerry's business career.

Over a span of six decades, Jerry committed his professional career to improving the quality of life for America's active duty and retired personnel and their families. In his role in the 1980's as the President of the American Logistic Association, Jerry became the Icon of the Military Resale industry with his relentless pursuit to innovate and improve performance and efficiencies for all players.

As a natural-born salesman and motivator, in the late 1960's Jerry quickly took the helm as the European Sales Manager for Wilson Harrell and Company, a major worldwide sales organization serving the US military commissaries and exchanges. In the early 1970's, he returned stateside and joined Military Distributors of Virginia. In 1983, he assumed the role of CEO and Chairman of the Board where he molded the company into the world's largest exclusive military food distributor. In 1986, with his brother David, Jerry founded Coastal Pacific Food Distributors. As the Board Chairman until his recent passing, Jerry shepherded Coastal into its current position as the major player in the food distribution network supporting West Coast and Far East commissaries and exchanges, as well as the US Navy's 7th fleet ships throughout the entire Pacific Realm.

For Jerry, the secret of his success as an entrepreneur and industry leader was never a mystery. He always understood the playing field and never took his eye off the ball and its relative position to the goal line. He knew the goal for his companies was to profitably fulfill the customers' needs better than anyone else in the game. To that end and throughout his entire career, Jerry confidently coached and motivated his partners and associates to challenge themselves, giving them the latitude to take risks, to learn from mistakes, and always to share the rewards of a team win. Jerry was truly the Lombardi of his chosen profession.

Jerry had many passions in his life, none more important than his family. When he wasn't in pursuit of business excellence, he loved to play golf and travel the world. In recent years, he took his family to destinations such as Rome, London, Salzburg, Amsterdam, Barbados, and Costa Rica. Jerry played golf at some of the most incredible courses in the world, including Augusta National, Pine Valley, and Pebble Beach. He took his sons to St. Andrews twice, and accompanied by Royal and Ancient members, the trips were epic. Jerry was a member at Ocean Reef Club, Card Sound Club, Angler's Club, Greenbrier Sporting Club, and the Olde Farm.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Judy, sons Todd (Nancy) and Tim (Meigan), and grandchildren Lindsay, Connor, Ashland, and Allison.

A celebration of life will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters or Shriners Hospitals for Children.