GERALD M. CRUTHERS
GROTON LONG POINT: Gerald Milton Cruthers, 79, of Land’s End, 10 Weston Road, Groton Long Point, husband of Marilyn Crowell Cruthers, died Saturday, July 2 after a long, courageous battle with cancer.
Gerry was born in Norwich on January 7, 1926, the son of C. Fred and Astrid (Swanson) Cruthers of Norwich. He attended Norwich Public Schools and graduated from the Norwich Free Academy in 1943. After graduating from NFA, he enrolled in the Navy V-12 Program, attending Tufts and Harvard Universities. He then was called to serve his country in the US Navy during World War II as Radarman 3/c on board the USS Champlin, which saw action in the Pacific Theater. His ship was the first to land in Hiroshima after the detonation of the atomic bomb.
Gerry returned to Connecticut and graduated with a B.S. from the University of Connecticut in 1950, from which he later received his M.A. On September 23, 1950, he was united in marriage with Marilyn (Williams) Crowell at Park Congregational Church, Norwich, by the Rev. Malcolm Garland. He began his 28-year career as a teacher at Norwich Free Academy in 1952, teaching mathematics. He earned a 6th year certificate from the University of Hartford and an Academic Year from the National Science Foundation to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1969, Gerry was named one of the first four Housemasters at NFA. He returned to teaching in 1978, and retired from NFA in 1980.
After his retirement, Gerry sold real estate with A. Robert Schnip and Associates. He also received an A.A. as a Library Assistant from Mohegan Community College. The degree assisted him in pursuing a career as a professional genealogist. Gerry researched the family lines of many people as a Certified Genealogical Record Specialist.
He was a member of Park Congregational Church, Norwich, where he taught Sunday School, and was Director of Religious Education. He also served Park as a member of the Executive Board, the Board of Religious Education, and the Board of Deacons.
Gerry was also a member of the Nathan Hale Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution; Society of the Founders of Norwich (Gerry was a direct descendent of Deacon Thomas Adgate, one of the Founders of Norwich); Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council; Connecticut Society of Genealogists; Rhode Island Genealogical Society; Indian and Colonial Research Center; Descendents of Roger Williams; Friends of the Slater Memorial Museum; Society of Descendents of Colonial Clergy; and the Stonington Historical Society.
Besides his beloved wife of 54 years, Gerry is survived by his son, David Crowell Cruthers and daughter-in-law, Josephine A. Cruthers of Groton Long Point, and his two grandchildren, William MacMillan Cruthers and Elizabeth Cassidy Cruthers. He was predeceased by his brother, Charles F. Cruthers.
There will be no Calling Hours at the request of the family. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, July 6, at 2 PM at Park Congregational Church, 283 Broadway, Norwich. Internment in Maplewood Cemetery, Norwich, will be at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Society of the Founders of Norwich, P.O. Box 13, Norwich CT 06360 or Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut, P.O. Box 902, Uncasville CT 06382-0902.