Obituary of Gerald A Cerza, Jr.

Gerald A. Cerza (Jerry) died peacefully on Thursday, September 19^th.  He was 85years old.

Born in South Orange, NJ to parents Gerardo and Philomena (Magliaro) Cerza, Jerry lived in Harding Township, NJ for 30 years.  Jerry started his football career at Columbia High School and once graduated he went on to attend Indiana University where he played for two years.  After his time in Indiana, Jerry served in the US Army Battalion 385 as a Military Police Officer stationed in Germany in 1958 and 1959 where he also played football.  After returning from Germany, Jerry completed his degree in Business Administration at Seton Hall University in where he graduated in 1962.  After graduating he became a teacher and athletic coach at St, Benedict’s Prep School in Newark, NJ.  Later he began to work for and ultimately became a partner in the family utility contracting business, Maple Contractors.  In 1977 he founded a staffing firm, The Assurance Group and retired as CEO after 31 years in 2008. After retiring he became a substitute teacher at Ridge High and William Annin Middle School in Basking Ridge for several years, which he enjoyed very much.

Jerry married his wife Rosalie Pirone and was a devoted and loving husband and father to their children Gerald and Maria.  Jerry was a former President of the Fathers and Friends at Delbarton School where he later served on the Board of Trustees.  He also served as President of the Villa Walsh Academy Home and School Association.  Jerry was an active parishioner at both Christ the King Church in Harding Township and St. Elizabeth’s Church in Far Hills and volunteered his time to the Morris County Board of Corrections assisting with masses for the Jail Ministry.  His hobbies included golf at Spring Brook Country Club, landscaping, gardening, exercise, his trips to Italy, Switzerland and Florida and watching his beloved New York Yankees. 

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Rosalie, his sister Luisa Borle of Lausanne, Switzerland, his son Gerald Cerza and wife (Christina) of Bernardsville, NJ and his daughter Maria Levine and her husband (Tom) of Gladstone, NJ and his treasured grandchildren, Devon, Alexa, Matthew, Kyle, Ashley, James, Carly, and Zachary.    

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, September 26, 2024, 10:30am at St. Elizabeth Church, 34 Peapack Rd, Far Hills, NJ 07931.  Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Basking Ridge.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Jerry’s name can be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.stjude.org. For further information or to leave an online condolence message please visit www.gcfuneralhome.com