Gerald Dennis Morrissey, known affectionately as Jerry, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2023, in Evanston, Illinois. He was born on February 6, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, and lived a full life until succumbing to late-stage dementia. Jerry's life was a testament to his loving, adventurous, and generous spirit. His ready smile and cheerful voice trademarks those he loved will remember always.

Jerry loved the outdoors, adventure and expressing his creative mind. Whether it was skiing, running, or biking, he relished time spent outside with others. His love for travel and exploring took him to warm places, like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. As one of the eldest of his twelve siblings, Jerry was the first to leave their Irish Catholic neighborhood on the south side and move to the north side of Chicago. Some would later follow his lead. Jerry's first apartment was in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, where he remained to start a family of his own. He loved to improve things, and renovating old buildings was one of the many ways he expressed his creative, engineering mind.

Emerson once wrote, "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." Jerry lived by these words and found happiness there, spending his life ready to help, participate, or listen, and making a difference in the lives of those he touched.

Jerry will be deeply missed by his two daughters, Michelle and Robin, his grandchildren, his siblings, and the many other lives he touched throughout his 81 years. In remembering Jerry, we celebrate a life filled with love, adventure, and generosity of spirit. He leaves behind a world that was made better by his presence.

Gerald Dennis Morrissey, or Jerry as he was lovingly called, may you rest in peace, knowing that the life you led continues to inspire and guide those you left behind. Your journey on earth might have ended, but your spirit lives on in the hearts of those who loved you.