Obituary of Hamilton W. Girard

Hamilton W. (Jerry) Girard, 87, formerly of Hopatcong, NJ, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Merry Heart Health Care Center, Succasunna, NJ.

Born in Erie, PA, to parents Robert L. Girard and Catherine Wright Girard, he was preceded in death by two sisters Abigail Ashwell of Huddleston, VA and Mary "Polly" Ricke of Titusville, PA, niece Lynda Ricke Madden, of Charleston, SC, life partner Carole's son, John (Jack) Gantert, of Hopatcong, and grandson Shane Massengale of Greenville, SC.

Jerry resided in Oil City PA as a child where he earned the honorable position of Eagle Scout. He attended college in Erie, PA. He was a 32nd Degree Freemason and enjoyed hunting and gun collecting with his family. One of Jerry's first jobs took him to Cleveland, OH for a position with Chicago Pneumatic tool company. While in Cleveland, Jerry enjoyed another one of his hobbies, boating on Lake Erie. Jerry's love for boats eventually led him to a dream position as Brokerage Manager with Admiralty Yacht Corp. in Fort Lauderdale, FL selling yachts. One of his most famous business dealings was with Aristotle Onassis and the crew of the Christina O., one of the largest super yachts of its time, Jerry threw a magnificent party at his home in Fort Lauderdale for the entire crew. This position eventually led Jerry to a new opportunity managing a fleet of vessels in Freeport GBI, which ended abruptly in 1972 when the British government was overthrown by a coup. Nonnatives were evacuated immediately, and he moved his family back to his childhood home in Oil City, PA. He was fortunate to regain his position with the Chicago Pneumatic tool company. This eventually led Jerry to open his own tool and industrial supply company, Interstate Equipment, in the late 1980s, where he landed large clients, namely General Motors assembly plant Tarrytown, NY, Con Edison NYC, and the NYC Transit. His company is still in business today servicing many of the same clients.

Jerry enjoyed much of his life traveling the world with his beloved partner Carole and enjoying time with his family, boating on Lake Hopatcong.

A footnote to Jerry's long and wonderful life, in his later years, while living in Merry Heart Care Center, where he was loved by all residents and staff, Jerry was voted president of the resident association. Notably, he acquired an official poker table reportedly from the Trump Casino and organized regular elbow-room-only, high-stake, poker games; just don't drop crumbs on the table!!!!

Survivors include his life partner Carole Gantert, son Marc Frato, wife Jill, grandsons Nick and Alex, daughter Judy Thomas, grandson Kyle Massengale, granddaughter April Rogers, Daughter Patty Lester Quinn, granddaughter Natalie Thayer, great grandson Aydin. nephew Clark Ricke, wife Tricia, nephew Steve Ricke, wife Shelly, and Niece Rosalyn Ricke Parker.

Jerry's services are private and entrusted to Leber-Lakeside Funeral Home, Landing, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Jerry's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project.