Obituary of Gerald V. Patrick

Gerald V. Patrick, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside on Friday night, September 20, 2019.  He was 88 years old and a 62 year resident of Burlington. Gerry was born in Lowell and was one of 6 children born to John and Alice Patrick.  He grew up in Lowell and Dracut.  He attended St. Michael’s School and graduated from Keith Academy. After high school Gerry joined the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves for 3 years.

Gerry went on to work for Raytheon for 40 years.  He held a wide variety of positions in Raytheon’s Burlington, Waltham, and Sudbury locations.  At the time of his retirement, he worked in Logistics on Raytheon’s missile systems.  He enjoyed his career, coworkers, and participated in a number of company golf and bowling leagues.  The best thing about working at Raytheon was that he met a coworker, Jean LaTorraca, whom he eventually married in 1955.

Gerry and Jean built their home in Burlington in 1957 and ever since has been active in his church, community, and youth sports.  He was a faithful parishioner of St. Margaret’s Church where he served as an usher, was a church volunteer at a Lowell soup kitchen, assisted with First Holy Communion, and was a member of the Holy Name Society.  He loved the outdoors and sports.  He himself played Men’s Baseball, skied, camped, skated, hunted, played Rec. Dept Volleyball, and was a passionate golfer.  He introduced the love of sports, especially golf, to all his children and grandchildren.  They regularly played together and were often a foursome at golf tournaments like the Burlington Golf Classic and Danny’s Day.  He was lucky enough to get a Hole-in-One while playing at Sandy Burr Country Club in Wayland.  He also volunteered at the Ryder Cup at The Country Club and the Senior PGA Tournaments at Nashawtuc Country Club.  He coached baseball, was a Cub Scout leader, and was a Past President of the Burlington High School Athletic Booster Club.  He volunteered for almost 20 years as a ski chaperone for Burlington High School Ski Program. You could always find Gerry on the sidelines supporting all his children as they competed in baseball, softball, wrestling, cheering, hockey, and golf.  Gerry loved watching the Red Sox, Patriots but most of all the Bruins, always surrounded by his family.

Gerry was also a talented woodworker and made wooden models of WW II planes that were good enough to be displayed at the Burlington Public Library.  When he wasn’t at a sporting event, or working in his shop, he was out maintaining his yard and beloved flagpole. 

Gerry was a man devoted to his family. He was a loving husband to his wife, Jean, for 64 years. They made a wonderful couple.  He was very active in all his children’s life’s.  He was an encouraging father, loved his children unconditionally, and would do whatever he could to help them at their homes and with raising their children.  He will be remembered for his whimsical sense of humor, strong devotion to his family, deep faith, competitive spirit, and for the love he shared with all who entered his life.

Gerry was the beloved husband of Jean (LaTorraca) Patrick. He was the loving father of Gail Sheehan & her husband Jackie of Mashpee, formerly of Burlington, Gerry Patrick, Jr. of Burlington, Valerie Miller & her husband Rick of Marshfield, Michael Patrick & his wife Laurie of Andover, Lisa Raucci & her husband Dave of Reading, Denise Daly & her husband Chuck of Burlington, and Chris Patrick & his partner Lisa Nye of Billerica.  He was the brother of Arlene Aunchman of Lowell, Dorothy Webster of Lowell, the late Virginia Bryne, Donald and Leonard Patrick. Gerry was the proud “Papa” to his 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 4-8 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Wednesday Sept. 25 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Gerry’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452 or www.alz.org. For directions obituary & online guestbook see www.stmargaretburlington.org or www.sullivanfuneralhome.net