Jerome U. Ethier

1944 - 2021

Jerome U. Ethier 1944 - 2021
Pomfret - Jerome (Jerry) U. Ethier, 76, died Wednesday evening, January 27, 2021 at Westview Healthcare Center following a ten-year battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was the loving husband of Diane (Morrissette) Ethier for 47 years. Born in Putnam, he was the son of the late Urbain and Lucille (Bouthillier) Ethier.
Jerry grew up in Putnam and graduated from St. Mary's School and Marianapolis Preparatory School. He served as a Personnel Services technician in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1971, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Jerry's childhood interest in aviation and construction shaped his life's work and experiences. In the 70's and early 80's he worked at Metal Mast Marine in Putnam as a ship's carpenter and maintenance mechanic and at J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber in Danielson as a millwork foreman and operations mechanic.
Jerry then worked as a self-employed tradesman in residential construction and design. His biggest project was designing and building his dream house for his family. Years of research, planning, hard work and creativity led to an earth-sheltered, passive solar, post and beam masterpiece.
When he was fifty, Jerry started taking flying lessons to fulfill a life-long dream of becoming a private pilot. He earned his pilot's license, bought a 1946 Taylorcraft airplane, and decided to go back to school. He enrolled in The School of Aircraft Maintenance at Harvard H. Ellis Regional Vocational Technical School. Jerry received his certification in the Airframe and Power Plant Course in 2001.
Jerry was a loving husband, father and grandfather who will be sadly missed. He was a true jack-of-all-trades, always willing to help family and friends with all types of projects. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Diane; his sons, Neal Ethier and his wife Amy of Woodstock and Daniel Ethier and his wife Heather of Plainfield; and grandchildren Emma, Ava, Caroline and Samuel. Jerry was predeceased by his granddaughter Ella Mae Ethier.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Westview for their compassionate and loving care over the last two years.
A celebration of life will be held at a later time. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. For memorial guestbook please visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.