Gasper “Gary” Gerardi

Gasper “Gary” Gerardi passed away peacefully with his loving family and parish priest offering him comfort during his last moments of mortal life. 

The second of two sons born to Mary & Vincent Gerardi, Gasper & his brother Eugene were raised in Bayside Queens where they were pupils at St Robert Bellarmine grammar school. 

In acknowledgement of his academic excellence at St Robert’s, Gasper was invited to attend the prestigious Xavier Catholic high school.  Every week for four years, he traveled by subway to 14th Street in Manhattan from his home in Queens. In addition to his studies, he drummed in the school’s military corps & played the accordion all while thriving on the academic challenge of a strict Jesuit education.  

Like so many others of his generation, it was during these years that Gasper discovered his love of Rock & Roll.  

At the famed Filmore East, he & his friends saw the likes of The Who, Led Zeppelin and The Byrds, and they rocked the house late into the night.  

Upon graduating Xavier in 1969, Gasper decided to attend St John’s University in Queens, following in the footsteps of his brother and other family members. Here, he was inducted into the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, again choosing to follow his brother who was president of Delta Sigma Phi.  

Continuing to display academic brilliance Gasper obtained his BS in marketing in 1973 and was granted a fellowship, teaching students while earning his master’s degree in business administration. 

Finally ready to seize the day, Gasper entered the fascinating world of perfumery as a marketing assistant at a small fragrance house located in Brooklyn called Felton inc,/fragrances. Thus began a lifelong passion for all things fragrance. Soon, his ambition to become more immersed in the business of fragrance led him to his next milestone, Gasper was recommended for a job in Allendale New Jersey as Vice-president/sales & marketing and was quickly made an offer he wouldn’t refuse. Upon meeting his boss for his first day at Lautier Aromatiques, he quickly began addressing Gasper as “Gary” and that is the name he proceeded to become known by. 

Gary purchased a home in Ramsey, New Jersey, enabling him to work long hours during the day formulating marketing and sales strategies and entertain fragrance clients later in the evening. He sharpened his skills to great success but continued to seek other industry opportunities . During his time at Lautier, Gary & his former wife Diane happily welcomed two children, Steven arrived in 1981 and Kara two years later. 

After stints at other fragrance concerns, the entrepreneurial spirit and belief in his ability motivated him to strike out on his own. With his experience and insight, he understood what a fragrance company should offer: excellence in creativity coupled with excellence in service. 

To this end Gary traversed the country on his own seeking opportunities and orders. 

His genuinely cordial demeanor along with the expertise he offered opened the doors to underserved clients who were grateful to be attended to, this became the start of the International Aromatics success story. 

Assisted by his father Vincent and his then- spouse Diane, Gary used his garage as his production area and secured credit from raw material suppliers to fulfill his orders. 

It became apparent that business was growing and Gary, having had to relocate his production facility to several different towns, prepared to find a permanent home for International Aromatics, He located & purchased the ideal building in the industrial friendly town of Moonachie, New Jersey, Perfumery, production, sales & marketing would grow together under one roof. 

The adage “work hard, play hard” appealed to Gary and he began snow skiing at top mountain resorts, bringing his children along to learn and enjoy the sport. 

September 1990 began as an ordinary day as Gary made his way to another local fragrance house called Novarome to discuss business with a friend and former industry colleague. 

Walking through the hallway to his meeting, Gary’s eye was caught by someone working in the conference room. It was Miss Val, who happened to be the senior fragrance evaluator at Lautier Aromatiques, where they both worked during the years 1977 through 1981. 

Perhaps the air that day had an enticing special scent to it because Gary and Miss Val quickly became a couple. They married in November 1992 at a lavish wedding at The Manor in West Orange. 

As International Aromatics grew, so did their lives together. In 1994 they built a home in Montville and joyfully welcomed their son, Vincent Edgar Gerardi to the world.

Gary also loved to play golf and when in 1995 was accepted as a full golf member of North Jersey Country Club he immediately bought a new set of clubs, gloves & hats to fill his personal locker in the men’s lounge. Gary gladly assumed the post of golf committee chairman and served his term with distinction, 2002-2007,  

Gary was a family man and desired a beach home to enhance their ability to entertain and relax at the Jersey shore. Manasquan was chosen to be near Val’s numerous relatives who had settled there. Gary’s favorite pastime was simply to sit on his deck above the beach watching the ocean in front of him and allowing the world to pass by. With or without company, he could easily spend all day enjoying the view, 

Not content to play golf only when Jersey weather allowed, Gary next purchased a residence in Grey Oaks Country Club, Naples Florida.  

Gary and Val enhanced their lifestyle with memberships to Deal Golf Club, Deal and Manasquan River Golf Club, Brielle. Friends and family were often invited to share dinners, events and holidays with the Gerardi’s at their clubs. 

Gary was helped during his lifetime by different people at different times for different reasons and he was one who paid it forward whenever he could in many ways, large and small. 

He was a good and joyful friend who could get a laugh from a rock because he was always ready with a joke or witty anecdote, happy to have an audience to entertain. 

He had a strong love of reading, and he especially enjoyed reading history.  

He was a Civil War buff but especially immersed himself in the lore and legend of the Kennedy presidency.  Ever thirsty for knowledge, he eagerly devoured biographies, mysteries, histories, and any that raised his curiosity. 

Being a fan of pop-culture, his fictional heroes included James Bond, Indiana Jones, Don Corleone, Star Wars and The Man From Uncle. 

As a self-declared Beatlemaniac, Gary amassed a large collection of Beatle music and memorabilia. He and his wife shared a love of Tom Petty, The Who and Bryan Ferry and joyfully attended many of their concerts, as well as countless other live shows, creating never to be forgotten memories.  

Gary was a man of sophisticated taste. However, should someone crave a sweet treat, he would offer a massive variety of candy, and as much as they could eat! 

He had many good times with friends who stayed loyal to Gary throughout his life.  

He also developed new friendships, and they too became loyal to him. 

Above all, Gary himself nurtured his family, loved his family, and had a smile for them every day, It was his great joy to have his three children want to become part of International Aromatics and he gently ushered each of them into the business that he had founded and will be his enduring legacy. 

And finally, Gary’s fondest hope was realized when his grandson, Louis Petrocelli was born on July 10 2023.  

Gary is survived by his devoted wife of 32 years, Valerie Accad Gerardi, his loving children Steven Gerardi, Vincent Gerardi, Kara Petrocelli, her wife Lana and their son Louis. 

Also surviving Gary are his brother Dr, Eugene Gerardi & his wife Cheryl. Gary’s nieces Catherine Bonanno, Elizabeth Collegio, Christine Farrington, Kristen Shaker his great niece Grace Bonanno.  

Gary’s nephew Edward Shaker and great nephews Cole Bonanno, Charles Collegio and Bear Farrington.  

His sister in law Denise Accad Wilson and her husband Chris Wilson. 

His sister in law Danielle Accad Shaker and her husband Corey Shaker. 

Gary was deeply honored to be called godfather by Catherine, Jennifer, Allison, Elaina & Brandon. 

He will be sadly missed but never forgotten by any who called him family or friend. 

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In lieu of flowers, donations in Gasper's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Tunnels to Towers.