Gerald Thomas Cooney

Jerry shuffled off his mortal coil peacefully and gently July 10, 2012. He was born June 16, 1924, 88 years prior, to Mary Flynn. Jerry's father had abandoned him and his mother while Jerry was still a toddler. Growing up in Chicago's South Side with a single mother afforded Jerry endless and dynamic opportunities to creatively survive. He was of exceptional intelligence and ability and if not for his deep Irish Catholic faith, he would have easily fallen into the gangster influences similar to today's ghetto of poverty. This was the Roaring 20's and Chicago. Once a gang threatened to go after his mother if he didn't participate in their nefarious activities. But being of quick wit and with a sincere Irish devotion to both mother and staying out of the paddy wagon, Jerry collected a bag full of Edison's incandescents. While running along the rooftops, he torpedoed the light bulbs down upon the pursuers of both his mother and his good reputation. Pretty cool, huh?! Mary Flynn, Jerry's mother, grew up in a Baptist orphanage but was reunited in later years with her siblings. Jerry's father had an extended family and between Mary's siblings and his father's relatives, Jerry found himself often housed for a period with one of them. However, the Chicago Cooney mentioned in the poem, Casey at Bat, was not one of his relatives -contrary to what Jerry may have related at a party! Jerry's formative years found him supporting his mother while working as a bellman at both the Windermere and Blackstone Hotels. Here he discovered the fineries of society and people like John Barrymore and James Cagney briefly blessed him with passing kindness and edifying encouragement. Physically, Jerry was tall and very tough. He had championships in boxing while with Catholic Youth and Golden Gloves. Once he had the honor of having the manager of the Cubs as his corner man. He loved reminiscing about Soldiers Field and meeting Joe Lewis. This was truly one meeting most cherished by Jerry. He boxed for a short time while in the Marines but got trounced because his unit could not avail him full time training and conditioning and his opponents from other branches were able to train full time. Jerry was also very tough under the ""hoop"", and when he had a family of his own, he erected a basketball hoop and spent many hours either watching or playing Chicago street ball with his sons. The driveway where that hoop was in Park Hill is remembered even today as Cooney's. While in high school at St Rita's, on Chicago's South Side, a caring priest saw both Jerry's intellectual and leadership abilities and helped Jerry enter night school classes at the University of Chicago. This is where he discovered his aptitude and affection for philosophy having witnessed titans such as John Dewey. Jerry was also given the opportunity to forego day classes at St Rita's for a full time position at Studebaker where his mother was employed. He advanced into a foreman position but with the pull of World War II everywhere, Jerry enlisted July 3, 1943 into the United States Marine Corps. He was attached to the Marine Aviation Separation Unit One where he spent close to a year in special training to conduct glider operations in the Pacific. This program met an abrupt suspension, and Jerry found himself dispatched as an infantry man to the Central Pacific area from June 18, 1944 until October 27, 1945. This was during the Marine's last major operation of the war, and he participated in the Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands operations. He also participated in air operations against the Japanese Empire. Jerry was honorably discharged as a Sergeant on December 20, 1945 and returned home via the U.S.S. Shangri La. He then joined his mother and her new husband, David Smith, in Davenport, Iowa. Jerry began courses at St Ambrose and found Davenport a very welcoming community. Studebaker Management was anxious to have Jerry return, but he had seen the world and was on to new horizons. The relationships, guidance, and opportunities given to him by the St Ambrose community, was one of the strongest moorings and most enduring influences in Jerry's life. With a degree in philosophy and minor coursework in labor relations and economics from St Ambrose, Jerry and a new bride ventured to Colorado where he soon began a Masters program at Denver University. While an undergraduate, Jerry had a very successful window washing business, and during his graduate work, he sold roofs to many small industrial and apartment buildings in the city of Denver. Upon completion of a Masters in Sociology, he began a career towards becoming a professor at Loretto Heights Women's College. He also taught courses at Regis College. For a short period, he had a television program on KRMA discussing Catholic religious and social issues. His family was rapidly increasing in number. By now, Jerry found himself the proud father of Maura Medesta, Mark Joseph, Kevin Marion, Michaela Mary, Peter Thomas, Dara Ann, Barbara Francis, and Rex Raymond. However, he found the financial demands for his family were not being met as a college professor. The insurance industry was an American institution experiencing great growth, and he soon found himself as a regional manager of CNA Assurance. His children were delighted that Daddy had an office in a sky- scraper with an elevator and dizzying views. Jerry thrived in the Denver business community and found himself president of SERRA, Catholic men's organization, and increasingly active on a number of boards and committees. In 1965, with most of his children in parochial school, he made the bold decision to run for the Denver Board of Education. He humbly acknowledged defeat to Rachel Noel and he, as well as all of Denver, found itself intricately connected to the great Civil Rights movement sweeping the nation. Rachel Noel was certainly a worthy victor. This was also a period of great strife and change for Jerry. And while his successes in business were many, his marriage to Patricia Ann Costello, which had produced eight children, was sadly coming to an end. World War II gave birth not only to baby boomers but many changes within American society that Jerry and Patricia were no longer able to successfully navigate together. Resurrecting shattered dreams began when Beverly Jean came into his life. Beverly had three children of her own, Christine Victoria, Dana James, and Robbie Alan who soon found Jerry very much a part of their lives. Jerry and Beverly were wed in November 1971 and were an inseparable team whose combined talents built Cooney and Associates. Beverly, who had talents in areas Jerry only found baffling, took control of his office leaving Jerry free to do what he did best: bringing people and ideas together. Before long, they were transitioning an insurance agency into a Health and Medical Insurance administrative organization. They were also developing Third Party Administration for investments. Jerry was on the cutting edge with pension knowledge, and he was one of the first in the nation to begin developing a Deferred Compensation Plan for public employees. When he did this he often found himself and Bev in a David and Goliath confrontation. The skills learned from the South Side of Chicago and the Marines often came in to play defeating giants such as Prudential and other bullies with gang-like clout. Today Cooney and Associates continues to administer one of the most respected and stable Deferred Compensation Plans in America thanks to the continued shepherding of the now current owner Dennis Shinners. There are many people in Denver to whom Jerry and Bev are humbly grateful for believing in them. Jerry knew back in the 70's that our medical insurance industry was unsustainable without major changes. This is one reason he began a shift toward administration, foreseeing the National Health Act, of which he surely would have been a voice. Cooney and Associates no longer administers Medical and Health Insurance, but if Jerry was still around . . . Jerry always expressed admiration and gratitude for people with vision who laid the foundation for the things we now enjoy. This was one reason he proudly served as President of the Water for Colorado. His passing in a year of drought is one of life's poetic ironies. While building a business, Beverly and Jerry survived for a decade on hard work, prayers and faith in their ideas. When fruits of their long labor came, not until their retirement years, they began a glorious odyssey to see the world and every culture they could. Jerry continued to thrive during this time because of his curiosity, desire to learn, exploration of new cultures, Irish wit, heartfelt graciousness, dynamic conversation, and his love of music and history. Travels to many areas of the globe including the times he and Beverly spent in Mexico filled the family home with wondrous stories of exotic places. Jerry had an eye for fine art and he enjoyed acquiring art pieces and special treasures from places visited. Retirement afforded Jerry the opportunity to explore new worlds, old times, and differing opinions through his love of reading. He was more than willing to share a book or two, or three, or four, with family members and friends. Jerry was from a generation where honoring one's elders and respect for parents were immutable moral absolutes. He knew his imperfections but would never negotiate or compromise deeply held values and truths. This is why a teller of tales can create in the hearts of many a lasting love and a belief in his integrity. Jerry leaves behind a devoted wife of 41 years, Beverly Jean, 5 married children with loving spouses, 2 unmarried children, 17 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and a partridge in a pear tree. Gerald T. Cooney will have a celebratory mass at Church of the Risen Christ, 3060 South Monaco Parkway, Denver at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 19. Eulogy and reception will follow at 11:15 a.m. Interment will be at Ft. Logan National Cemetery at 1:15 p.m. Attendees should go to staging Area C. Jerry shuffled off his mortal coil peacefully and gently, July 10, 2012. He was born 88 years ago in Chicago, Illinois. His mother, Mary Flynn did the best she could as a single mother, and Jerry's roots in Irish Catholicism were a source of pride and lifetime fellowship. However, Jerry was a friend to everyman, and he was always ready to tell a tale to beat all tales. He taught his family and friends much, suffered for them readily, and introduced his children to the knowledge of Jesus. ""Can do"" best describes his attitude toward life. Faith in God was his most treasured possession. His wife, Beverly Jean, and all his children were his greatest love. His greatest sorrow was family discord. His family hopes God won't mind that he brought his pipe to heaven. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: America's Fallen Heroes Fund, 12731 Moorpark Street, Studio City, CA 91604.