Gerard Olry "Gerry" de Labry

1933 - 2021

Groton Long Point - Gerard "Gerry" Olry de Labry, most beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away Feb. 1, 2021, one week short of his 88th birthday. Born in Spain in 1933, to French parents, Rene Olry de Labry and Odette de Venancourt de Labry, Gerry was the third of four children. In 1941, the family fortunately was able to leave Europe for the safety of America. They settled in Scarsdale, N.Y., and upon the advice of other French refugees there, spent summers in Groton Long Point - safe from the polio epidemic - from 1942 on.

At the same time, the Sherman Grimes family of Belmont, Mass. discovered Groton Long Point in 1944, and Gerry and Geneva Grimes met there in the summer of 1949. After graduating from Scarsdale High School in 1951, and Yale University in 1955, Gerry married Geneva at St. Joseph's Church in Noank and he began a long career with the Southern New England Telephone Company (1955 - 1991). In Feb. 1956, he was given a two-year leave of absence to fulfill his ROTC commitment, as an artillery officer, first at Fort Sill, Okla. and then at Fort Ord, Calif.

SNET welcomed him back, and through the years he worked at many levels and at various offices. Transfers abounded, and for the family, now with four children: Gerry Jr., Lorraine, Colette and Paul, that meant new homes, new schools and new friends. No matter where the family moved, they managed to spend time in GLP in the summer - rationale: healthy for the children and to maintain old friendships. And the bonus? Gerry could spend so many hours fishing! He kept careful records of his fishing exploits and filled many journals over the years, even injecting touches of his great sense of humor. He would re-read these for his own pleasure over the cold winter months before the winter of 1971. That was the year he was introduced to skiing! His life took a turn. Skiing was so exhilarating; he could enjoy this outdoor sport with wife, family and like-minded friends. The best part would be having the kids and grandkids share the good times on the slopes and later relax in the Vermont condo by the fire. These days and nights would evoke many comforting and laughable memories! Other talents of Gerry's included gardening and writing a summer fishing column under the nom de plume, Ole Slimey, for the GLP News.

First and foremost, Gerry was the loving patriarch, ready to share what he had earned, what he had learned in life with his large family: wife Geneva who called him alternately "Dad" and "Grampa;" children: Gerry Jr. and wife Lesley, Lorraine and husband Steve Callahan, Colette and husband John Flint and Paul and wife Suzanne; grandchildren include: Jennifer, Andrew (Daly), Marc (Emily) and Phillip (Ariana) de Labry, Jack (Annah Todd) Callahan and Elizabeth Callahan, Declan, Rowan, Ethan and Adele Sales, Sean and Cody Flint and Nate, Jacques and Clair de Labry; and great-grandson Brayden de Labry. He is survived by a brother, Jacques Olry de Labry; and a sister, Alyette de Labry Sarasin; and many nieces and nephews. Gerry was predeceased by infant daughter Chantal Olry de Labry; and sister Nicole de Labry Waterman.

Due to the pandemic, the funeral Mass will be private. Any donations in memory of Gerry may be sent to St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, 69 Groton Long Point Road, Groton, CT 06340.