Gerald Hubbell

HUBBELL, Gerald Briggs "Jerry" USN 91, of Belleair Bluffs, FL, and founder of Hubbell Funeral Home, passed away December 11, 2022. He was born in Takoma Park, MD. He graduated high school from Shenandoah Valley Academy, a boarding school in New Market Virginia, where he learned his independence. After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and served most of his tour of duty at Anacostia Naval Air Station in Washington, DC. Following discharge from service, Jerry enrolled at Washington Adventist University where he met Stella, a nursing student, and they married in 1956. Thereafter, he passed the Florida State Board Examination from Echols Mortuary College in Philadelphia, moved to Florida, and eventually established Hubbell Funeral Home in 1963, one of the first businesses in Belleair Bluffs. Jerry served his industry association as president of the Florida Funeral Directors Association. He also served as district governor of Rotary International, District 696 from 1977 to 1988. He advocated that women should be allowed to serve in Rotary, which was a men's only organization at that time. He led Rotary's first women's study exchange group that traveled to Australia as a showcase of professional leaders. In 1996, Jerry established Medico Environmental Services, a medical waste disposal company, to help area funeral homes dispose of their waste in compliance with state regulations. Medico grew beyond servicing funeral homes and expanded to several thousand medical offices, labs, clinics, and over sixty area hospitals. He served several Board of Director positions, received numerous awards and acknowledgments, plus served as a Commissioner of Belleair Bluffs. He always advocated for a better tomorrow and fearlessly moved projects forward, believing change was needed. Anyone who knew him, will remember his sense of humor, countless stories, and gentle spirit. He is survived by his loving wife, Stella, of sixty-six years; three children, Melissa (Cliff) Hubbell-Blum, of Harbor Bluffs, FL, Melinda (Kevin) Ferm, of Nashville, TN, and Gerald (Christine) Hubbell, of Belleair Bluffs, FL; five grandchildren, Ryan and Griffin Ferm, Stella Hubbell, and Benjamin and Ellie Hubbell; and two great-grandchildren, Emilia and Jack Ferm. Visitation will be held at Hubbell Funeral Home Chapel, 499 N. Indian Rocks Rd., Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770 on Monday, December 19, 2022 from 4-7 pm. Funeral service will be at Clearwater Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1445 Lakeview Rd., Clearwater, FL 33756 on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11 am. Entombment to follow at Serenity Gardens Memorial Park, Largo, FL. Hubbell Funeral Home www.HubbellFuneralHome.com