Gerald Stomski

1956 - 2015

Gerald David Stomski

Former First Selectman HAMPSTEAD, NC Gerald "Jerry" Stomski, 59, passed away Sunday, May 31, 2015 at Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. State Senator Robert J. Kane led the Connecticut General Assembly in a moment of silence for him on Monday morning. Jerry was born January 8, 1956 in Pittsfield, Mass. to the late Bernard S. and Helen Mercure Stomski. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Joan, and four children, Sarah, Andrea, Andrew, and Hannah, and five grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepfather, Robert J. Keeler of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; brothers, Robert A. Stomski of Jamaica, Vt, The Very Rev. Dr. William L. Stomski of Boca Raton, Fla., David B. Stomski of Westchester, N.Y.; his sister, Judith Kozak Shaw of Dalton, Mass. and many nephews and nieces. He met his wife at Lenox Memorial High School, where he graduated from in 1974. He continued on to receive a degree in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1977. He moved to Woodbury, Connecticut, where he raised his family and became an irreplaceable member of the community. He ran a successful landscaping business for 30 years before being elected First Selectman in Woodbury. He and his wife moved to Hampstead, N.C. last year where they had planned to retire. Jerry was an inventor, arborist, politician, security expert, civic volunteer, enthusiastic family man, New England Patriots fan, and avid gamesman. He combined his love of music and vision of Woodbury's future into music events often featured at the Old Town Hall or at Hollow Park. He created the Youth Work Force Program to give students work opportunities that benefit the community. As Woodbury's Tree Warden, he took a class of third graders from Mitchell Elementary on Tree Walks down Main Street each spring, where he shared his love and knowledge of nature with kids. Jerry was a neighbor to everyone. You could always find him affectionately landscaping his yard, talking shop with the friends and neighbors who stopped by, as he pruned and watered. "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in." Calling hours for Gerald D. "Jerry" Stomski will be Friday, June 26, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street in Lenox, Mass. followed by his funeral service at 11 at Saint Ann's Church, next to the funeral home. A memorial tree planting will be held in Woodbury at the Strong Property off Scratchville Road on the 27th of June at 1 p.m.; all are welcome to attend both services. In lieu of flowers, the Stomski family requests you plant a tree in his honor or make a donation to the Stomski Family Fund at PO Box 10097 Wilmington, NC 28404 or gofundme.com/qkdutaa