Richard Gerard, Jr.

Richard Gerard, Jr. age 59, of Wayne, passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 after a long illness.

The second of Richard and Elvira “Dolly” Gerard’s three children, Rich was born in Newark and raised in Bloomfield where, before graduating with the Class of 1981, he played football, basketball and baseball for the Bloomfield Bengals.

After completing his education, Rich initially worked in his father’s business at the Daily Deli in Carlstadt. Soon after he began attending trade school and embarked upon a career as a union sheet metal foreman. His first job was with Richard’s Sheet Metal in Hawthorne. He worked at K.F. Mechanical in Fairfield for over 20 years before retiring last year.

While out at the Half-Penny Pub on Centre Street and Franklin Ave in Nutley, Rich met Cynthia Fata. He liked her and soon asked her out for a date to see the movie Dirty Dancing. They fell in love and one day while out on a horse-drawn carriage ride in New York City, Rich proposed marriage. Their wedding took place on Saturday, October 14, 1989 at the Westmount Country Club in West Paterson (now called Woodland Park). It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day and, after the wedding and reception, they honeymooned in Hawaii. Rich and Cynthia began married life in a townhouse in East Rutherford located at 26 Willow Wood Square. Remaining there for the first four years of marriage, in 1993 they moved to their present home in Wayne.

Outside of work, Rich and Cynthia enjoyed beach vacations with family and friends to North and South Carolina, a trip to Mexico, closer to home down the Jersey shore, and a cruise to the Bahamas. Going out to dinner as a family or with friends was something he truly enjoyed.  Rich also loved sports and was a big fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants. For about fifteen years in a row, he and friends made it an annual tradition to see an away-game at one of the NFL stadiums. At home, life was never better than when he could relax with his family by the pool, including Cooper, his faithful Jack Russell Terrier.

In cannot be overstated that Rich’s family was the most cherished and important part of his entire life. Blessed with three beautiful children, Erica, Cassandra and Christopher meant the world to Rich. He was ever present for all of Erica’s dance recitals, Cassandra’s softball games including those as a third baseman for Rowan University, and he enthusiastically coached Christopher in Wayne Little League, the Wayne Warriors traveling baseball team and Boys & Girls Club traveling basketball.  When Erica married a year ago, he was truly the proudest father of the bride in the world. He was so excited for Christopher making it to professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinal’s and he and Cassandra were like-minded in almost every way and shared a special bond. Rich was a throwback kind of guy who loved embracing longstanding traditions like having family gathered for dinner. It wasn’t Sunday if macaroni wasn’t served and it wasn’t Christmas without Lasagna! He loved all the big holidays and spending them together with those he so dearly loved.

Genuinely kind and fun spirited, Rich was a significantly loved presence in the lives of those who called him family or friend.

Rich was the beloved husband of Cynthia (Fata) Gerard, blessed in marriage for 32 years. He was the cherished father of: Erica and husband Brad Mills of Lincoln Park, Cassandra Gerard of Wayne, and Christopher Gerard of Wayne; dear son of the late Richard and Elvira “Dolly” (Nigro) Gerard; loving brother of: Cynthia and husband Gregg Thompson of Hillsborough, and Cheryl and husband Bill Strother of Brick Township; dear son-in-law of Nick and Marie Fata of Lyndhurst; dear brother-in-law of Melissa and husband Marc Cotugno of Livingston; and dear uncle of: Nicholas, David, Julia, Olivia, and Adrianna.

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Those planning an expression of sympathy in Rich’s name are asked to consider:

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Richard Gerard Jr’s. name to support Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Checks, made payable to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, should be mailed to:

Attn: Community Fundraising

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Office of Development

PO Box 27106

New York, NY 10087

Please indicate on the check memo line that the gift is in memory of Richard Gerard, Jr.