Gerald P. "Jerry" D'Auria

Gerald (Jerry) D'Auria, a former long-time resident of Nyack and owner/proprietor of "Jerry's Candy Store" entered into the hands of our "good Lord" on September 14, 2005. He was 86.

Born on January 10, 1919 in Nyack, N.Y. to the late Pasqualina Damato and the later Peter Anthony D'Auria, he is survived by his children: Robert and his wife Maggie, Gregory and his wife Beth, Stephen and his wife Sue, Susan and her husband Ray, Pauline and her husband Bernie, Rita and her husband Greg, and Ann Marie and her husband Wayne, his grandchildren: Marissa, Gregory Paul Jr., Alison, Christina, Thomas, Matthew, Raymond, Christopher, Greg Jr., Sean, Kevin, Richie, Daniel,, Michael, Kaitlin, Thomas, Robert, Giavanna, Wakeley, and Brody. He is also survived by his in-laws, Vincent Welsh, John Welsh, James Welsh, David Welsh, Lawrence Welsh, Kate Welsh, Sue Welsh, and Fran Toscano.

A devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend to many, his is predeceased by his wife, Alice Welsh D'Auria (1992) and three children: Gerald (1956), Jeffery (1975), and Elizabeth Ann (1992), his eight siblings: Anna Evers, Angela DePietro, and Lucille (Aunt Lu) D'Auria and five brothers: Thomas, John, Samuel, Peter, and Patrick D'Auria, his in-laws Rita Bodnar, Carol Welsh, Robert Welsh, Tom Welsh and Michael Welsh.

Jerry attended St. Ann's School of Nyack and graduated from Nyack High School. In high school, Jerry excelled in both basketball and baseball. In basketball, he was a four-year starter for the Nyack Indians and made the All-County Team both in 1938 and 1939 seasons. His greatest claim to fame was attained in the sport of baseball where Jerry played varsity ball for five seasons (grades eight through twelve) was All-County shortstop for four consecutive years (1936 through 1939) and led the Rockland County Public Schools Athletic League in home runs in the 1938 and 1939 seasons. Following his 1939 high school graduation, he briefly attended Southwestern University in Lafayette, La., before being drafted by the Lafayette White Sox, a Class D farm team of the Chicago White Sox.

In 1941, he was drafted into the United States Army and served 34-months in World War II, during which time he earned five Battle Stars. In the Service, he also played on the All-Service baseball team, competing with and against major league players and touring all over European war zones. Following his honorable discharge from the military, he played one year of professional baseball for the Nyack Rockies of the Class D North American League, setting a league record with 11 RBIs in a doubleheader (two grand slams and a base-clearing triple.) In May 2001, he was inducted into the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his baseball accomplishments.

He was a firm believer in "giving back" to his community. His various roles included: volunteer fire fighter, an elected Village Trustee for two terms, Mayor of Nyack, and a coach for CYO for 20 years. He was also a long-time member of St. Ann's Parish in Nyack and later, Immaculate Conception Church of Stony Point.

Calling hours will be held at Hannemann's Funeral Home, 88 South Broadway, Nyack on Thursday, September 15, 2005 from 7-9 p.m., and Friday, September 16, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2005 at 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Church, 16 Jefferson Street, Nyack.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that anyone wishing to honor his memory to please make contributions to the American Cancer Society, One Executive Blvd., Suffern, NY or Hospice of Rockland, 11 Stokum Lane, New City, NY.