Final Salute

Jerome Thomas Walker, also known as “Jerry”, “Papa Jerry” and “Ricky” by family members, died on Friday, September 9th, a day before his 75th birthday.

Jerry was born in West Newton, Pennsylvania on September 10th, 1947. He grew up in Clairton and McKeesport, Pennsylvania and graduated from McKeesport High School. While in high school, Jerry played football and ran track. He set a track record at McKeesport High for the 110 hurdles that we believe still stands!

Jerry went to college at Harvard University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Relations. He attended graduate school at Rutgers University, where he received his Masters in Psychology.

Jerry served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He was stationed on a Seabee base in Gulfport, Mississippi and also a naval base in Newport, Rhode Island, where he worked in the Personnel Department.

Jerry’s professional career was spent working in Piscataway, New Jersey, first, at Bell Labs, then at Bellcore, at Primarica Financial Services and finally at IEEE, in Business Development.

Jerry was an active, lifetime member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He initially pledged Sigma chapter while a student at Harvard. After graduating and moving to New Jersey, he became active in the alumni chapter, Theta Psi Lambda. Over the years he served in several leadership positions within the fraternity, including Chapter President and Area Director.

Jerry was an active member of North Stelton AME Church, where he was President of the Inspirational Men’s Chorus and a member of the Men’s Fellowship. He loved singing in the Inspirational Men’s Chorus and for NJPACE (New Jersey Polyphonic Acapella Community Ensemble).

Jerry also belonged to the Piscataway Senior Center, where he participated in the Piscataway African American Seniors Club and sang in the club’s Senior Choir.

Besides singing, Jerry enjoyed doing ancestry research, reading, gardening, golfing, cooking and doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles. He and the family completed a 5000-piece puzzle last year that was his pride and joy. The Pittsburgh Steelers were his favorite football team, and he had lots of gear and enthusiasm.

One of Jerry’s favorite places was the extended family’s vacation home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Watching the sunset, eating seafood dinners, enjoying the ocean, going to the drive-in and other activities with family and friends, were cherished by him. His children and grandchildren continue these family traditions when they are at the vacation home.

Jerry loved and adored his family. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 54 years, Rebecca; his children, Jerome, Safiya, Leisa (Gaetan) and Devin (Frehiwot); grandchildren, Byron, Cynthia (Stephen), Jasmin, Imani, Jamil, Jayla, Jade, Angela, Tania, James, Jahai, Sebastian and Nyah; and great-grandchildren, Aleah, Dominique, Cairo, Charli and Carmelo; his brother Louis (Tammy); his sister Loretta; his Aunt Carol; and many special nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, Alyce and Howard, and his sisters, Marcia and Terrilyn.

While those who loved him are devastated by his death, we know that he would want us to continue living our lives with faith and love for one another.

A Celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at North Stelton AME Church, 123 Craig Avenue, Piscataway, New Jersey on Saturday, October 22nd at 11:00 am.