Jerry John Lavish, of Stuart, Florida, passed peacefully into the hands of the Lord on Friday, February 9, 2018 at the age of 79 after a long battle with cancer.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Virginia Lavish, and by his children, Gerald Lavish, James Lavish, and Stacey Olson, as well as four grandchildren, his sister, Mary Ann and brother, Martin.

He served in the United States Naval Air Reserves from 1961 to 1967 after a short tour of full-time duty.  During his 40 year career, Jerry made significant contributions to the United States Navy Nuclear Program working as a government inspector, nuclear engineer, Manager, Section manager and Senior Project Manager in various roles at Knolls Atomic Power Labs, General Electric (MAO), and Lockheed Martin Marietta.  Among his most important achievements was the resolution of the mechanism bearing problem on the USS Bainbridge .  This allowed the US Navy to use a higher powered nuclear plant for the Los Angeles class submarine to make it move at much higher submerged speeds than USSR submarines. Jerry's team was also instrumental in designing and building a state-of-the-art steam generator that does not leak for the Virginia class submarine.  Sixty-two Los Angeles class ships and over twenty Virginia class ships were eventually built, helping the United States during a critical period of the Cold War.

Outside of work, Jerry served on the vestry at Saint George's Episcopal Church in Clifton Park, New York, and in retirement, he served as President of his residential community's HOA for nine years.  A lifetime Mets, Giants, and New York Ranger's fan, and avid deep-sea fisherman, Jerry lived his entire life with a passion for sports and the outdoors. Having achieved an BSME degree from the University of New Haven, and MSME from Union College, as well as an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jerry had a deep love for learning and academic study.  He extended this knowledge as well as an overall enthusiasm for life to all those he met and touched.

A private service was held on Saturday, February 10 ^th at Saint Mary's Episcopal Church in Stuart, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, contributions as a memorial would be appreciated to Saint Jude Children Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.