Jerry P. Lucchesi, 93, of Providence and formerly of Pawtucket, RI peacefully passed away with his family by his side on Sunday, September 24, 2023. He was the beloved husband of the late Gloria (Varone) Lucchesi to whom he was married for 63 years before her passing.

Born in Pawtucket, Jerry was the youngest child of the late Gervasio and Elisabetta (Tonelli) Lucchesi and was pre-deceased by his sisters and brothers, Irene Donovan, Paul Lucchesi, Livia Cosimini, and Gerri Lucchesi.

He was a lettered high-school athlete in baseball and basketball and played baseball into his thirties for company teams. He was an avid follower of Pawtucket, state of Rhode Island, and New England teams in all sports throughout his life. After graduating from Pawtucket East Senior High, Jerry entered the Rhode Island School of Design and was studying towards a degree in Commercial Art when the Korean War broke out. As he knew he would be drafted into the military, he decided to enlist in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Rapid City, South Dakota, and with his commercial art background, he was trained in reconnaissance photography.

While in the service, Jerry continued to pursue his high school sweetheart, Gloria, and after many letters were exchanged, he convinced her that if they wanted to get married, it was now or never. He returned to Rhode Island on leave, and on August 16th, 1952, at St. Leo's Parish in Pawtucket, Jerry and Gloria wed. While in Rapid City, Gloria began her teaching career and gave birth to the first of their five children.

When at the level of Staff Sargent, Jerry was honorably discharged in 1954, and he brought his new family back to Rhode Island where they purchased their first home in Pawtucket and joined St. Teresa's Parish. As Gloria had a degree in Elementary Education from Rhode Island College, she became the financial backing for the family, allowing Jerry to enroll in Northeastern University and pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering. While Jerry was commuting by train from Pawtucket to Boston, he and Gloria had two sons. He was always great at multi-tasking.

By 1960, Jerry had a beautiful wife and was the father of three children with an engineering degree. Starting at C.I. Hayes in Providence, he launched his career, followed his passion for his faith, and pursued his hobbies. He joined the St. Teresa's men's bowling and golf leagues, and the Delaney Council of the Knights of Columbus, delved into the stock market as a day-trader, and continued to golf.

On the first Sunday following Vatican II in the early 1960s, when the church changed the format of the mass, Jerry became a lector at St. Teresa's, a role in which he took a lot of pride and served in for over 20 years. By the middle of the decade, Gloria gave birth to two more daughters, and the father of five followed his two sons into the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 11, the parish's local chapter, and served as Committee Chair from 1969 through 1973.

The trifecta of his parish volunteer commitments was capped with his election as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus from 1972-1973. As Grand Knight, Jerry and Gloria launched Italian Night. The evening was such a huge success that it became an annual event.

In 1973 Jerry began his career in the pharmaceutical industry at American Hoechst Celanese where he oversaw the plant utilities, boiler room, and wastewater treatment facility. Then in 1974, he earned his Professional Engineer License, and would now sign his name as Jerry P. Lucchesi, P.E. During his tenure with Hoechst Celanese, Jerry was asked to serve on the Rhode Island governor's energy committee, which he did until his retirement at the age of 55.

Retiring early, you would think that Jerry would slow down and just focus on the family, stock market, and his golf game, but that wasn't his style. As he and Gloria's five children had graduated from college, were marrying, and starting families of their own, he started a consulting firm, J. V. Healy Polymers and Associates, with a buddy of his from Northeastern University. Together the two engineers were awarded consulting contracts with firms throughout Europe. Being a consulting engineer was always a highlight for him.

Already an entrepreneur and back in the States, Jerry and Gloria purchased a pre-school in 1987 with their daughter, Lindy and her husband Bob. Together they co-owned the East Providence Early Childhood Learning Center for eight years. The school was often used to mainstream children with special needs from the Meeting Street School.

Throughout their life together, Jerry and Gloria enjoyed traveling around the world and golfing together. As members of Highland Country Club, Jerry's handicap was in the single digits. Throughout those years his golf scores often matched his age until he finally hung up his golf cleats at age 90.

Above all, he was a dedicated husband and father; family was his priority. He loved planning family camping trips, traveling up and down the east coast. In later years, the annual summer reunion, of golfing, hiking, and swimming together in the White Mountains of New Hampshire was a favorite for all, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jerry is survived by his children; Lindy Goudreau and her husband Bob of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, Steven Lucchesi and his wife Cheryl of West Warwick, Greg Lucchesi and his wife Suzanne of Bluffton, South Carolina, Lauren Alexander and her husband John of Austin, Texas, and Lisa Webb and her husband Danny of Rockport, Massachusetts; by his twelve grandchildren; Matthew, Tara, Tracy, Kylie, Jared, Anna, Natalie, Katherine, Evan, Nolan, Dylan, and Ryan; thirteen great-grandchildren; Ethan, Cole, Grace, Lucia, Gloria, Joy, Tristan, Thérèse, Ellie, Jack, Aubrey, Madelyn, Josephine; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Jerry was a man of determination and resilience, the architect of his family. He had a wonderful sense of humor, was an excellent athlete throughout his life, and loved being around his family and friends. He serves as a role model to his family as a husband, father, grandfather and community leader. He will be tremendously missed by all.

Relatives and Friends are kindly invited to a Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, September 30th, at 10:00 AM in Saint Teresa Church, 358 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket. Burial with military honors will follow in Mount Saint Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket. Visiting hours are on Friday, September 29th from 4:00-7:00 PM in the Manning-Heffern-O'Neill Funeral Home, 220 Cottage Street, Pawtucket.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Teresa's Church 358 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket, R.I. in Mr. Lucchesi's memory.