Obituary of Gerald C. Gemian

Gerald C. Gemian, age 103, of Towaco, NJ, passed away on Saturday evening July 25, 2026 at the Valley Hospital in Paramus, NJ.

Born in New London, CT to his Armenian parents Charles and Mary, he attended Paterson, NJ local schools and survived World War II and the Great Depression.

He was the beloved husband of Elizabeth (nee Frano) for 74 years, who predeceased him in 2021. He was the loving father of Gary Gemian and his wife, Vivian (nee Dumperth). He was the dear grandfather of Kristen Zalewski and her husband, Stephen, Kaitlyn Gemian and her fiancée, Kyle Murphy, and Kara Gemian. He was proud to be a great-grandfather to Gavin Gerald, Peter John and Livia Elizabeth Zalewski.

Undaunted by the loss of his mother at age 7 during the Great Depression, Gerry learned survival on the streets. He found solace in adventure books that took him to exotic lands and fictional and non-fictional heroic figures. His indomitable spirit refused to give in to the malaise and despondency of the times. A favorite quote of Gerry's from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Edward Fitzgerald is, "A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou." A verse said by many to represent the idea that happiness and contentment can be found in the simplest of things.

As an ardent patriot, Mr. Gemian enlisted in the United States Army in 1942 during World War II serving with distinction in the Marshall, Marianas and Palau Campaigns. He received several Naval commendations among his various decorations, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands awarded him the Marianas Commemorative Medal for his service.

He resided in Paterson and West Paterson, NJ for fifty years, relocating to the Towaco section of Montville Township, NJ in 1977.

While in West Paterson, he was parishioner of St. Bonaventure R.C. Church, located in Paterson, serving as an usher, a member of the parish council and was a founding member of the Father's Club, an organization devoted to the athletic endeavors of the church. Additionally, Mr. Gemian served as President of the Paterson Board of Health and Commissioner of the Board of Education.

During his lifetime, Mr. Gemian was employed by several military industrial complexes, notably Link-Singer Kearfott, and ITT Corporation, Avionics Division. His prominence was as business manager on the Apollo Space Program for Link-Singer Kearfott. He was honored by the Grumman Aircraft Apollo Space Program as liaison for his outstanding duty to the program by signaturing a plaque placed on the moon by astronauts.

He was a longtime member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 5481, American Legion Post 238, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Passaic Valley Chapter 2111. After moving to Towaco, he became a member of St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Montville, where he served as an usher and was an active and much beloved member of the Monsignor Joseph Ferrito St. Pius X Knights of Columbus Council 7536.

As a centenarian, Gerry was helped daily by family and friends, making his last days enjoyable with companionship and assistance beyond imaginable. His greatest joy was spending time with his brother knights, friends in the St. Pius X Community and Veteran of Foreign Wars and neighbors, as well as his family. Not a day went by that he did not think of them!

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Monday, July 27, 2026, 4:00pm to 8:00pm at S.J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service, 60 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha, NJ. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 10:00am at St Pius X Roman Catholic Church, Montville. Entombment with Military Honors will follow at Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum, East Hanover, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for memorial gifts to either St. Pius X Knights of Columbus, Montville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5481, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (https://stjude.org ) in Gerry's memory.