PLAISTOW, NH: Gerald P. "Jerry" Guilfoyle, 87, died Sunday, December 5, 2010, at the Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill. He was the husband of the late Rita R. (Christopher) Guilfoyle, who died in 1993.
Born in Haverhill on September 7, 1923, he was the son of the late Samuel and Hazel (Wright) Guilfoyle. He attended Walnut Square School and graduated from Haverhill High School in 1942. He resided in Haverhill before moving to Plaistow in 1953. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served with the Army Air Corps in Iceland before being honorably discharged in 1945.
Jerry was employed as a press-setup mechanic in the piece part shop at Lucent Technologies (formerly Western Electric Co.) in Haverhill and North Andover for 42 years before retiring in 1989. After retiring, he worked part time for several years as a delivery person for Haverhill Dental Laboratory. Jerry belonged to the American Legion Carl Davis Post in Plaistow and was a proud member of the "Walnut Square Gang," a group of former Walnut Square School students who hold periodic reunions. He loved to be helpful and was happiest when driving and running errands for himself and others. Among his favorite places to stop during summer were Skip's Hamburgers in Merrimac and Carter's Ice Cream in Bradford. He took much pride in his two Cadillacs and his pickup truck. He loved cats and always fed his neighbors' cats and strays on his doorstep.
He is survived by his two sisters-in-law, Mary Wyka of Plaistow and Louise Klodenski of Haverhill; a brother-in-law, Alfred Christopher and his wife Jane of Atkinson, NH; two nephews, Joseph DeCristofaro of North Augusta, SC, and Ronald Klodenski and his wife Nancy of Newburyport; a niece, Jean Blackadar of Atkinson, NH; his dear friend, Florence Cottis of Haverhill, several cousins, and several great-nephews and great-nieces.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, December 10, in the St. James Church, 161 Winter St., Haverhill, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held prior to the Mass from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the National Kidney Foundation of New England, 85 Astor Ave., Suite 2, Norwood MA 02062, or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. Interment will be held at the Elmwood Cemetery in Bradford.