Jerome E. McBride
Jerome E. McBride “Jerry”, age 80, of Indian Head Park passed away peacefully on January 26, 2023. Beloved husband of the late Carol (nee Rowe); loving father of Jennifer (John) Boxell and Alison (Ryan) Ballard; grandfather of Benjamin and Alexandra Boxell, and Lucy and Rowe Ballard. Brother of the late Margaret “Peggy”(Tom) Kienzle, Matthew McBride Jr., Michael (Megan) McBride, and John (Janice) McBride. Cherished uncle to many nieces and nephews and dear friend to all.Born on December 21, 1942 to Mary Jane (nee Brown) and Matthew McBride, Jerry graduated from Carl Sandburg High School, earned his bachelors degree from Catholic University, and his doctorate from Temple University. After a brief stint in academia, Jerry spent most of his career at Maritz Motivation and Amoco.
Jerry was an eternal optimist who loved life and everyone he met. His family and friends were his top priority, with golf (and recently paddle) being a close second! He considered La Grange County Club his second home and family, where you could usually find him playing golf or paddle, having a meal, or hanging out in the paddle hut. He lived a full and genuinely happy life.
Memorial visitation on Friday, February 10, 2023 from 4-9pm at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Interment private.
For Service Info: 708-352-6500
Jerry was just the best cousin throughout my life! When I was young he would come to Champaign to accompany my big sister to dances like The Prom-I was so jealous!!
When I was 18 arriving in NYC for the first time, Jerry was my tour guide-taking me to all the best nooks and crannies in New York, trying to explain the subway system, going down to The Village after midnight…as New York never sleeps! Then years later, Jer insisted on showing me “his”Chicago. I ate along all day and eve…yup best food anywhere-just like he had said.
I also was able to explore and enjoy his “other home” the LaGrange Country Club’s : fabulous brunch
Jerry texted me for a name he needed in December…and now I see why he wasn’t replying to my Question about his health!
I will miss my cuz.
Jerry was a great friend who I got to know at LLGCC while serving on a committee with him but more importantly on the golf course where patiently would put with my bad golf. Always a classy gentleman with a wonderful smile and handshake.. May God bless him and his family. Mike Moran
Jerry was family to us – he was a remarkable, insightful, kind man who taught us many things and was always interested in keeping up with myself, my husband and our children. Family events always included Jerry. We will miss him terribly.
Jerry was a wonderful neighbor. Everytime he saw you he had a great smile and a warm hello. I always saw him leaving for the Golf course he was happy all the time. He will be sorely missed in our building. Rest in peace Jerry
We will never forget Jerry and Carol for being our “tour guides” on a trip to Florence, Italy. With Jerry’s background in theology, we received expert information on everything of a religious nature.
He was a good friend and I got to spend time with him when he worked for John Graham in the northern suburbs. A true spokesperson and advocate when necessary for our dealers and jobbers always searching for equity and fairness in their relationships with Amoco. I’ll miss him tremendously.
Jerry was in his PhD program at Temple when Carol and he became my friends. Jennifer and my daughter, Amy were babies together. Through the years we kept in touch and visited me often in Florida. Jerry always had a recommendation for a book I should read. I miss him , his happy smile and his good advice.
Jerry was a true gentleman. I was always happy to meet him.. We are poorer for his passing. May he Rest In Peace.
It has been a great privilege to be friends with Jerry and the McBride family for the last 40 years. He will be greatly missed as friend, traveling companion, historian, golf coach and so much more. He was one of the kindest individuals we ever knew.
He was devoted to his family and proud of their adventures and achievements. He was also always genuinely interested in the well being of those around him and their families.
Jerry celebrated life every day and it was contagious with whoever he was with at the time. A wise man once said “ Live life so you fill up the church at your wake”. We suspect it will be difficult to find a parking spot at his visitation.
Jerry was a generous and big-hearted friend who showed abundant kindnesses to our entire family over more than thirty years. Highly educated in some areas (e.g. early Christianity and Irish whiskies) and well informed in many others, Jerry was always a stimulating conversationalist and a never ending source of fascinating books and articles to read.
A gifted athlete, Jerry was highly competitive but always gracious in both victory and defeat. He never stopped trying to improve his golf game through several health challenges but optimistically to the very end. Highly adventurous, he regularly tried to bring his friends into new experiences with him.
At all times he was a caring presence. His passing leaves a big hole in our hearts. We are thankful for the many happy and meaningful times we spent with Jerry both alone and amongst mutual friends. We will miss him terribly. And now who will we ask exactly how many minutes of daylight are left before it will be too dark to play golf?
Very difficult to put into words what a terrific person and friend Jerry-Man has been these past 35 + years. He truly cared and was always concerned about the well-being of all his friends and their families. He had an insatiable interest in people and an insatiable desire to read, learn new ideas, methods, philosophies, social and political movements, whatever, and to share his knowledge.
So, so many great memories at LGCC and on so many golf trips where he was always the go-to guy for the travel logistics and the games…The Woodlands, World Woods, Pinehurst, Mountain Lake, Naples, Port St. Lucie, Scottsdale, Ireland (the wee road), Scotland (9/11), etc. The light was always on in his room at 4 am as Jerry-Man was reading the NYT. If he couldn’t make a trip, he’d offer to drive you to the airport. Watching brothers Jerry, Mike and John play golf together was a priceless treat. A companion for so many high school B-Ball games anywhere in the city or suburbs and those jaunts into the city to some dive to have a piece of pie and cup of coffee.
Jerry’s devoted care for Carol and his determination (he won a club championship 6 months ago!) and grace in the face of so many health issues he endured for years and especially the past couple of months, has been an inspiration. Condolences to Jen and Allie. You were blessed with wonderful parents. As you know Carol and Jerry so loved the grandchildren-talked about them all the time.
Thanks Jerry-Man, for so much. Can’t say much more about a person than you going to be missed by a lot of people.
Requiescat in Pace!
Our condolences. From the golf course to many, many swim meets, we both loved talking with Jerry. Such a wonderful man. He will be missed!
Reading these condolences was a gift. A moment of grace. I saw a full life, a well lived life, in reading these recollections. A man with deep kindness. I knew Jerry when he was a young college teacher. Just starting out. Finishing his PhD at Temple. As a freshman in college, Jerry was my teacher in an innovative inter-disciplinary seminar. Then, 1968-69. He had a beard then. He wad smart but down to earth. A mentor. I recall his comment on a paper I wrote. “Best paper I read this year”. I later became a college professor myself. He and others were mentors. Counting myself lucky. Remembering here and now, a good man and still learning from him.