Jerome Thomas Ruszkowski was born in New York City, New York on August 25, 1934 to parents Edward and Jane Ruszkowski.  He went to be with the Lord on December 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas.

Jerry graduated from Cardinal Hayes Catholic High School in 1952 and from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1956.  As the first member of his family to attend college, he was very proud to be a Fordham graduate. Upon graduating from Fordham, Jerry attended the University of Florida for a year before taking a job at Allied Chemical in Wilmington, Delaware.  After a couple of years in Delaware, he and his family moved to Cumberland, Maryland, where Jerry worked at a Celanese Chemical Corporation chemical plant.  In 1968, Celanese transferred Jerry to Houston, Texas where he worked for the remainder of his career, eventually becoming a plant manager for several different companies until he retired in 1996.

Jerry married Lorraine Catherine Flannery on January 10, 1959.  This year they celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary.  Jerry was totally dedicated to his family.  He had three sons and he spent all his free time mentoring them and supporting their various athletic and academic goals.  Jerry was a devoted son, loving husband, generous father, proud grandfather, caring brother, and loyal friend. A humble and private person with a great sense of humor, he was very respected by all who knew him.

Jerry was equally dedicated to attending church each Sunday.  Jerry has been a member of Saint Paul’s Catholic Church for the last 50 years.  No matter where Jerry was, he would find a Catholic church to attend, even if the service was in a foreign language.

Jerry’s favorite support was snow skiing, which he fell in love with while living in Cumberland.  Even after moving to Houston, he would pile his family in the car at least twice a winter to drive to New Mexico or Colorado to go skiing.  After retiring, in order to stay ready for skiing, Jerry would get up every morning and go for a run and then a bike ride.  Then every afternoon, Jerry and Lorraine would head to the pool to swim laps.  Until he was in his early 80s, Jerry did this mini-triathlon every day.  At age 82, Jerry had to stop skiing but continued to swim laps until this past year.

Jerry loved not only his immediate family, but he was also very close to his brother and parents. He was so close to his brother’s kids that they considered him a second father.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lorraine, his son James and his wife Jennifer, son Kevin and his wife Stacey, all of Clear Lake and daughter-in-law Shelley Ruszkowski of The Woodlands, TX.  He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren:  Greyson, Faith Ann, Victoria, Madeline, Skyler, Kyle, Carter, Cole and Eve as well as many other relatives and family members across the country.  Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ed, and his son, Peter, who died in 2015.

A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held on Friday, January 10th at 10:30am at Saint Paul’s Catholic Church (18223 Point Lookout Drive, Houston, TX 77058).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.