William Geraghty

William “Billy G"  Geraghty, age 72, of Nutley, formerly of Wayne, passed Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

He was born in Jersey City and raised in Clifton by William and Marjorie Geraghty. In 1962 the family moved to Wayne and in 1976 they moved to Nutley.  Bill graduated from the Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1966.

Billy G’s first job during his high school years was at the Packanack Lake Bakery in Wayne. Still during high school he worked for the Brown Engineering Company in Hawthorne where he drove a truck and helped install glass including window’s and mirrors. He began driving a truck for Finest Grocery Stores based in South Kearny and would often pick up his sons Gary and Ricky, who were not supposed to be riding in the truck, outside the gates of the distribution center to help him during the day. He also worked for Preston Trucking in Kearny for about twenty years retiring in 2001.

Billy G met Susie Solari while they were in the Schuyler Colfax Middle School in Wayne and they started dating while attending the Wayne Valley High School.  They were high school sweethearts whose first date bowling at Butler Bowl. They fell in love and married on January 17, 1967 and honeymooned at Mount Airey Lodge in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.  Their marriage was blessed with two sons Gary and Ricky. Billy G and Susan had a loving and devoted marriage of fifty-three years.

Billy G was generous to a fault and was always fishing twenty dollar bills out of his wallet for everyone. He was always joking and making up rhymes. He enjoyed having friends and family over to the house especially on holidays where he would make sure everyone had the drink they needed.  In recent years Billy G was known for sitting on his driveway known as Tar Beach for many who knew him and was in charge of the unofficial neighborhood watch. He enjoyed a summer home on Long Beach Island and boating for pleasure and fishing. It was not uncommon to hear over the CB radio that the Geraghty boys were stuck out on the water and needed a tow in.  He was an avid New York Yankees and New York Giants fan. He would take his radio out into the yard and often listen to Yankee games out there.  Although he was in charge of about all outside maintenance and car washing at home in his retirement he would sometimes surprise Susan having dinner cooked and even do the dishes.  Billy G was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather who attended as many of his grandchildren’s games or events as possible. He will also be remembered for wearing his sunglasses all the time. Day, night, indoor, outdoor, out to dinner, weddings and just about anywhere where sun glasses were appropriate or inappropriate. His Irish heritage was of utmost importance to him and St. Patrick's Day was one of his favorite holidays to celebrate.

Billy G is the loving husband of Susan Geraghty; devoted father of Ricky Geraghty of Nutley,  Gary Geraghty and his wife Nancy also of Nutley; he was the cherished grandfather of Madison, Jackson, Mia, and Isabel Geraghty; brothers, Bob Geraghty and his wife Laurie of Roseland, John Geraghty and his wife Leslie of Wayne, Jim Geraghty and his wife Rahel of Wayne, and Michael Geraghty and his wife Kelly of Chesterfield, MO; He was preceded in passing by his parents Marjorie Geraghty (d.2003), William F. Geraghty, Jr. (d.2010), his brother Richard (d.2011), and his nephew Peter (d.2009).

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St Jude Childrens Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated.