Gerald Dunnack

Gerald "Jerry" Dunnack, 80, of Columbia, died January 19, 2004. He Was born in the Ridges section of Mansfield, to Harry and Dorothy (Snow) Dunnack. Jerry was educated in Mansfield schools, and was a 1942 Graduate of Windham High School, where he played football and baseball. Jerry was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corps. In 1945 he married Betty Cobb, of Columbia. After the War, Jerry played professional baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals organization in New Iberia, Louisiana. Jerry worked for the Willimantic Poultry Association, and later for Nassiff's for Sports. An avid athlete all his life, Jerry played and coached for the Ridges Baseball Team of the Willimantic Twilight league for many years. He coached youth baseball in Columbia, and helped form the Columbia Amateur Hockey Association, for which he coached youth hockey teams until the time of his death. Jerry's other passions included golfing, bowling, gardening, hunting, downhill skiing, and caring for his lawn and pond. He groomed the ice on his pond every winter so that kids could skate and play hockey. Jerry is survived by: his wife of 58 years, Betty; his son Scott and wife Ann; and granddaughters Samantha, her husband Joe Randazzo, and their three children Victoria, Christina, and Trystan Randazzo; Jocelyn and husband Adam Johnson; and grandson Eric. He is also survived four brothers: George, Delton, Robert, and Raymond, as well as a sister, Lillian Mason, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers: James, William, Henry, and two sisters Mae Latimer and Elsie Dunnack. His family will receive friends at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic on Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00pm. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday at 7 PM at Columbia Congregational Church, Rt. 87, Columbia. Burial will take place at the convenience of the family. PLEASE OMIT FLOWERS. Memorial contributions may be made to Columbia Amateur Hockey Association, C/O Peggy Cobb, 110 West Street, Columbia, CT 06237 or the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department, 167 Rte. 66, P.O. Box 26, Columbia, CT 06237.