AUBURN – Gerald E. Berry, 80, of 246 Pine St., Rumford, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 19, at the Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice.

He was born in Bingham, on May 29, 1927, the son of Earl and Lorna (Sands) Berry of Bingham. He graduated from Bingham High School in 1945. During his time in high school, he participated in baseball, skiing and football. He also worked at V.J Pierce Clothing store while attending high school. After graduation, he was drafted into the Navy (WWII) and was sent to Hawaii for 11 months. During his stay in Hawaii, he worked at a Navy radio station near Honolulu.

After his first honorable discharge in 1946, he started working for the Kennebec Pulp and Paper Co. in Bingham. During the height of the operation at Spencer Lake, he handled payroll for more than 200 employees.

In 1948, he entered Farmington State Teacher’s College and earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary/junior high education. During his four years at Farmington, he participated in baseball, basketball, skiing and also belonged to many clubs.

After graduating from college in 1952, he was drafted again into the Navy (Korean War). During the next two years, he served on the USS Great Sitkin ammunition carrier, which visited many different ports in Europe. He received both the Navy Occupation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. After his second honorable discharge in 1954, he started his teaching career in the Unity, Maine school system. In November 1954, he married Juliet Gallant of Rumford.

His teaching career brought him to Orcutt, Calif., where he taught in the same school as Mrs. John Madden, (Oakland Raider coach’s wife). His career then led him back to Maine, where he taught school in Auburn for one year.

In 1963, he and his family moved to Rumford, where he finished his teaching career retiring in 1980. He was also principal at the Pettengill elementary school for many years. Throughout the many years after his retirement, he had the pleasure of meeting former students. All of them thanked him for being such a great person.

He was very proud of his family especially his grandchildren’s accomplishments both academically and athletically. He loved watching the Red Sox play and always referred to them as “My Sox.”

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Juliet of Rumford; his two sons, Michael and wife, Gloria, of Rumford and Steve and wife, Tracey, of Turner; six grandchildren, Eric and Shawn of Turner, Meagan, Sarah and Allison of Rumford and Jason of Long Beach, Calif.

His family would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses and staff at Rumford Community Hospital, CMMC in Lewiston, Ledgeview Living Center in West Paris and the Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice in Auburn for the superb care he received. A special thanks to Margaret McNiel and all of the caregivers who helped Jerry stay at home as long as possible.