John Mitchell Gerty, 96, a former Hinsdale resident, died at home with family by his side on Nov. 28, 2020.
Born in Chicago in 1924, he was the son of the Francis and Ursula, nee Mitchell, Gerty. He graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1942, and subsequently continued his studies at California Institute of Technology. He earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois, and proudly served his country in the United States Navy during World War II.
In 1989, he retired as a program manager from Draper Laboratory in Cambridge after 26 years of employment. He was a member of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club, served as treasurer of the Society of Automotive Engineering and was a recipient of the Group Achievement Award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He enjoyed sailing with Patty on the "Zephyr'' and paddling in handmade wooden canoes.
He had been a resident of Concord since 1963.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia Gerty, nee Eggers; his children, John (Marcy Maller) Gerty Jr., David (Anne) Gerty and Rosemary Gerty; four grandchildren, Sarah Bussolari, Lia Gerty, Mary Isabel Sarwacinski and Margaret Gerty; three great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Matthew and Ezra; his sister, Helen Owens; his sister-in-law, Judy Gerty; and his brother-in-law William Taylor Jr.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Isabel Gerty, nee Watling; his brother, Frank Gerty; and his sister, Mary Taylor.
Services will be private.
He will be buried with U.S. Navy military honors at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord. Concord's town flag flew at half-staff Dec. 1 in honor of his faithful military service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Concord Council on Aging, 1276 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742; or Canine Companions for Independence, P.O. Box 446, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 (online at https://www.cci.org).
Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord handled the arrangements.
