Obituary of Gerald Denis Page

Gerald Denis Page, 85, of Pomfret Center, died Friday, August 26, 2011 at home. He was the husband of the late Mary Jean (Gallup) Page. They were married in 1974, she died March 23, 2003. His first wife, Dorothy (Poitras) Page died July 20, 1973. He was born November 16, 1925 in Killingly, son of the late Dieudonne M. and Antonia M. (Marchessault) Page. He attended St. James Parochial School and was a 1943 graduate of Killingly High School. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1950. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1943. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He served as a member of an elite group developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff directly. Top secret group's existence, code-named Ivory Soap, was not declassified until 1990s. He was awarded battle stars for campaigns in the Marianis, Iwo Jima and the air war against Japan. He was employed at Hamilton Standard Division of United Aircraft at East Hartford and Windsor Locks. He was appointed Local and District 91 Organizer in 1954, later to Internatioal Staff as Special, then Grand Lodge Representative. Promoted to Assistant to the General Vice President with offices in New York and Washington. During his 34 year career with IAM, he was responsible for representing his organization before eight Regions of the National Labor Relations Board. He was involved in organizing campaigns, negotiating collective bargaining agreements and arbitration/mitigation proceedings and had administrative responsibility for over 200 full time representatives from 1968 until his retirement in 1985. He was an avid Red Sox Fan. He leaves his children Mark J. Page of Woodbridge, CT, Michael G. Page of Boynton Beach, FL, Nicolette P. Musco of Northford, CT, brothers Bernard Page, René Page, sister Arlene Kearney, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren, several nephews and nieces, including Jean Rickey and Joann Bauer and a special great niece Stacy. Funeral Services will be private. Donations may be made in Gerald's memory to the Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 or the Abington Congregational Church, PO Box 289, Abington, CT 06259. Arrangements by Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove Street, Putnam. To share a memory with his family "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com