OBITUARY NOTICE:
Father Gerald DiGiralamo, SA – Franciscan Friar of the Atonement
(February 15, 1945 – December 20, 2020)
(December 20, 2020 – Graymoor, Garrison, NY). Father Gerald (“Jerry”) F. DiGiralamo, SA, a Franciscan Friar of the Atonement, passed from this life on Sunday, December 20, 2020.
Fr. Jerry was born on February 15, 1945, in New York City to Nunzio and Marie Savaria (Ventimiglia) DiGiralamo. He was joined in the family by a brother, Anthony.
Fr. Jerry attended elementary school in Astoria, N.Y., and high school at St. John’s Seminary in Montour Falls, N.Y. He received a B.A. degree in Philosophy from St. John’s Seminary, Boston, Mass., in 1976. Fr. Jerry earned an M.A. in Counseling from Emmanuel College, Boston, in 1978 and an M.A. in Divinity from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., in 1981.
In 1959, Fr. Jerry entered the Friars of the Atonement and received the habit in 1963. He made his first profession in 1964 and professed final vows in 1970. He was ordained in 1981 by Bishop Eugene Marino at Graymoor.
Fr. Jerry worked in Maintenance at the Chapel of Our Savior, Brockton, Mass., from 1970 to 1971 before being assigned as Assistant Director of the Christian Unity Center from 1971 to 1973. In 1973, he was assigned as Pastoral Assistant at St. Anthony’s Church in Hereford, Tex., where he ministered until 1975. Fr. Jerry worked at the Atonement House Novitiate in Medford, Mass., from 1975 to 1977.
He attended Catholic University in Washington, D.C., from 1977 to 1981 and received his Master of Divinity degree in 1981. He served as Parochial Vicar from 1981 to 1985 at Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling, Va.
Fr. Jerry returned to New York in 1985, ministering at Infant Jesus Church in Port Jefferson (1985-1987), the Graymoor Retreat Center in Garrison (1987-1989), St. John of God Parish in Central Islip (1989-2000) and St. Joseph Church in Babylon (2001-2008).
Fr. Jerry returned to the Chapel of Our Savior in Brockton in 2008, serving as Associate Pastor and Guardian/Director. He remained active in ministry at the Chapel until his passing on December 20, 2020.
Fr. Jerry is survived by his brother, Anthony, and sister-in-law, Rita; nephews Frank and Anthony Peter and their wives Samantha and Sarah, his niece Jessica and his great-nieces Mikaela, Emma, and Olivia.