J 623: Mourning the death of Gerald H. Morrow, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

 Senate Resolution No. 623 BY: Senator STEC MOURNING the death of Gerald H. Morrow, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Gerald H. Morrow, lovingly called "Jerry" by friends and family, of Verona, New York, died on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at the age of 76; and WHEREAS, Born in Plattsburgh, New York, on September 20, 1948, to the late Harold and Bernadette (Bezio) Morrow, Gerald H. Morrow was the oldest of five children, and his siblings included Sandra, Terrilynn, Marion, and David; and WHEREAS, Shortly after graduating from Keeseville High School in June, 1967, Gerald H. Morrow married his late wife Diane Giddings on November 28, 1968, at St. John's Catholic Church in Keeseville, New York, and together they shared the joy of raising their beloved daughter, Lisa; and WHEREAS, Gerald H. Morrow distinguished himself in his profession and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of his community; and WHEREAS, Gerald H. Morrow worked at the Grand Union Company grocery store from 1967-1983, and after his retirement he founded his own hay farming business and Morrow's Construction Company; and WHEREAS, Gerald H. Morrow's business ventures were successful, and he produced over 30,000 bales of hay per year and completed many renovations and construction of homes and barns all over the North Country; the last home he built was his late wife Diane's dream home in Keeseville, New York; and WHEREAS, Gerald H. Morrow's commitment to excellence, and his spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including charitable and civic endeavors; and WHEREAS, With a love for his community and a desire to give back to those around him, Gerald H. Morrow became drawn to public service, and he was a village trustee for the Village of Keeseville from 1973-1976, Chesterfield Town Councilman from 1986-1993, Chesterfield Town Supervisor from 1994-2020, and member of the Essex County Board of Supervisors until 2019; and WHEREAS, After his retirement, Jerry moved to his new home in Verona, New York, with his fiance, Patricia Maffa, and they oftentimes shared the pleasure of attending shows and concerts at the nearby Turning Stone Casino; and WHEREAS, The Knights of Columbus was an important part of Gerald H. Morrow's life, and he had served as Grand Knight and President for the Eugene Santor Council Knights of Columbus No. 4689 for many years, in addition to being a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus in Plattsburgh since 1994, where he was a faithful navigator of the 4th degree; and WHEREAS, During his retirement, Gerald H. Morrow remained on the board of the United Way, and his involvement with the United Way allowed him to continue to serve his community and give back to those in need; and WHEREAS, Gerald H. Morrow is survived by his fiance, Patricia Maffa; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Randy Kelley; granddaughter Alexis (Kelley) Kosowski and her husband, Zack Kosowki; great-grandson Carson J. Kosowski; granddaughter Brooke Kelley and her significant other, Colin; and his brothers and sisters, David Morrow and wife, Christine, Terrilynn Favreau and husband, Jimmy, and Marion King; and WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, Gerald H. Morrow leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to mourn the death of Gerald H. Morrow, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Gerald H. Morrow.