Obituary for Gerald Edward Archambault
Gerald E. Archambault
December 6, 1964 - June 23, 2019
We are devastated to say that we lost our beloved friend and family member... so tragically, so suddenly, and far, far too soon.
Gerald E. Archambault was known to most as Jerry Arch or just Arch, and in a neighborhood that is 90% nicknames, he was affectionately known as "Fat Arch." Believe it or not, his good friends called him that with great love. Jerry was a sweetheart. A kind-hearted, good natured guy who loved to make you laugh. He was so funny and he had the best laugh. He'd throw his head back and his arm around you, and kind of fall over a bit, as he doubled over laughing. He definitely enjoyed a good time and he would laugh just as hard when the joke was on him. In fact, at his own expense, he'd throw in his own abuse to add to the fun, and would also insert himself into crazy situations just to make you laugh. Jerry had a great big smile and his eyes and his face would light up when he saw you. I'm going to miss that. I know we all will.
Jerry was a loving son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle and friend to so many, but his favorite role in life - the one he loved the most, was being a father to his beautiful daughter Kylie. He adored her and loved her so much - she meant the world to him and he was so very proud of her. I know he felt lucky and honored to be her Dad, and he was so looking forward to their upcoming trip to Mexico together with his sister Denise and her family. Losing him so young is devastating, but Kylie is surrounded with love and support and I know she knows how much her Dad loved her... and I hope she also knows how much he was loved by so many other people.
Jerry spent his entire life in Throggs Neck, a neighborhood he loved. He was the middle child of Barbara and Jerry Archambault, and they adored their only son. They couldn't have done more for him, and he was devastated when he lost his beloved mother a year and a half ago. Jerry's two sisters, Michelle and Denise, were wonderful to him and they spent many happy days together growing up. There were also days they wanted to throw him out the window... but just in the normal sibling type of way. They loved each other deeply and drove each other crazy at the same time, and his sisters looked out for and took care of him his whole life. Jerry grew up in Edgewater Park on "Alden," just blocks from his grandparents, enjoying his days on the beach with his friends. As a teenager, he was a "Corner Boy" in Edgewater, and that same circle of friends has been with him to this day. He spent many fun summers in the Hamptons and crazy winters running around Hunter Mountain enjoying himself with his friends.
Jerry graduated from St. Frances de Chantal grammar school and Spellman High School, where he made life-long friends and honed his great love of football on the St. Frances Blue Devils team (a great name for a Catholic school team, by the way) and the Spellman Pilots. He was really good and he played defense for many years both at school and for the local bar league. He attended Iona College for a while before joining the NYPD, for a brief time in the Transit Police Academy and then in the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx, before ultimately joining the brotherhood he loved as an FDNY firefighter. These roles brought him new friends and experiences and he loved his time with them all. He spent his FDNY career with, and retired out of Engine 60/Ladder 17 - the "Green Beret" house in the South Bronx, and he proudly marched with his brothers in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade up 5th Avenue.
Mr. Arch, Jerry's Dad, has spent most of his life as a member of the Locust Point Yacht Club with his "Just Begun" and "Just Begun II" boats, so Jerry was there from a young age and he eventually followed suit as a member when he took over the care of the boat. He enjoyed his time at the club with all of his friends and loved a good day on the boat. He was also a long-time member of the Edgewater Athletic Association ("EAA") which is the group that is responsible for the annual Labor Day Races and other community events throughout the year. Jerry was thrilled to line up and catch his little girl when she would run to him in those races, and as she got older, they enjoyed the father-daughter races together. Jerry also loved riding his motorcycle, and most years he would head down to see his sister Denise, her fiancé Brad, and their family for Bike Week in Daytona, FL. Desperate to attend last year, he even borrowed a junker bike (almost a moped) to drive 4 hours in Florida to get there. Not the brightest idea, but his mishaps and misadventures along the way brought him (and us) many, many laughs.
Jerry had a wide circle of friends and the outpouring of love this past week is a testament to the friendships he built in his life. His family meant the world to him and they were there to help and support him in everything he did, as were his best friends who were like family to him.
It's heartbreaking to have lost him, but I know he is at rest and is free from pacemakers and defibrillators and not feeling like himself. The many memories we have of Jerry, and the many laughs we shared along the way, will need to sustain us for now, and comfort us in our sorrow. I hope he's riding the Harley of his dreams right now on his way to take his boat out for a sunny day on the bay!
He'll be forever missed, may he rest in peace. God love you, Jerry... I know we all did.
December 6, 1964 - June 23, 2019
We are devastated to say that we lost our beloved friend and family member... so tragically, so suddenly, and far, far too soon.
Gerald E. Archambault was known to most as Jerry Arch or just Arch, and in a neighborhood that is 90% nicknames, he was affectionately known as "Fat Arch." Believe it or not, his good friends called him that with great love. Jerry was a sweetheart. A kind-hearted, good natured guy who loved to make you laugh. He was so funny and he had the best laugh. He'd throw his head back and his arm around you, and kind of fall over a bit, as he doubled over laughing. He definitely enjoyed a good time and he would laugh just as hard when the joke was on him. In fact, at his own expense, he'd throw in his own abuse to add to the fun, and would also insert himself into crazy situations just to make you laugh. Jerry had a great big smile and his eyes and his face would light up when he saw you. I'm going to miss that. I know we all will.
Jerry was a loving son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle and friend to so many, but his favorite role in life - the one he loved the most, was being a father to his beautiful daughter Kylie. He adored her and loved her so much - she meant the world to him and he was so very proud of her. I know he felt lucky and honored to be her Dad, and he was so looking forward to their upcoming trip to Mexico together with his sister Denise and her family. Losing him so young is devastating, but Kylie is surrounded with love and support and I know she knows how much her Dad loved her... and I hope she also knows how much he was loved by so many other people.
Jerry spent his entire life in Throggs Neck, a neighborhood he loved. He was the middle child of Barbara and Jerry Archambault, and they adored their only son. They couldn't have done more for him, and he was devastated when he lost his beloved mother a year and a half ago. Jerry's two sisters, Michelle and Denise, were wonderful to him and they spent many happy days together growing up. There were also days they wanted to throw him out the window... but just in the normal sibling type of way. They loved each other deeply and drove each other crazy at the same time, and his sisters looked out for and took care of him his whole life. Jerry grew up in Edgewater Park on "Alden," just blocks from his grandparents, enjoying his days on the beach with his friends. As a teenager, he was a "Corner Boy" in Edgewater, and that same circle of friends has been with him to this day. He spent many fun summers in the Hamptons and crazy winters running around Hunter Mountain enjoying himself with his friends.
Jerry graduated from St. Frances de Chantal grammar school and Spellman High School, where he made life-long friends and honed his great love of football on the St. Frances Blue Devils team (a great name for a Catholic school team, by the way) and the Spellman Pilots. He was really good and he played defense for many years both at school and for the local bar league. He attended Iona College for a while before joining the NYPD, for a brief time in the Transit Police Academy and then in the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx, before ultimately joining the brotherhood he loved as an FDNY firefighter. These roles brought him new friends and experiences and he loved his time with them all. He spent his FDNY career with, and retired out of Engine 60/Ladder 17 - the "Green Beret" house in the South Bronx, and he proudly marched with his brothers in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade up 5th Avenue.
Mr. Arch, Jerry's Dad, has spent most of his life as a member of the Locust Point Yacht Club with his "Just Begun" and "Just Begun II" boats, so Jerry was there from a young age and he eventually followed suit as a member when he took over the care of the boat. He enjoyed his time at the club with all of his friends and loved a good day on the boat. He was also a long-time member of the Edgewater Athletic Association ("EAA") which is the group that is responsible for the annual Labor Day Races and other community events throughout the year. Jerry was thrilled to line up and catch his little girl when she would run to him in those races, and as she got older, they enjoyed the father-daughter races together. Jerry also loved riding his motorcycle, and most years he would head down to see his sister Denise, her fiancé Brad, and their family for Bike Week in Daytona, FL. Desperate to attend last year, he even borrowed a junker bike (almost a moped) to drive 4 hours in Florida to get there. Not the brightest idea, but his mishaps and misadventures along the way brought him (and us) many, many laughs.
Jerry had a wide circle of friends and the outpouring of love this past week is a testament to the friendships he built in his life. His family meant the world to him and they were there to help and support him in everything he did, as were his best friends who were like family to him.
It's heartbreaking to have lost him, but I know he is at rest and is free from pacemakers and defibrillators and not feeling like himself. The many memories we have of Jerry, and the many laughs we shared along the way, will need to sustain us for now, and comfort us in our sorrow. I hope he's riding the Harley of his dreams right now on his way to take his boat out for a sunny day on the bay!
He'll be forever missed, may he rest in peace. God love you, Jerry... I know we all did.