*Jerry’s Mass of Christian Burial will now be held Tuesday, April 7th, at 10:00 AM at Church of St. Denis, 90 Union Avenue, Manasquan

Gerald (Jerry) Edward Coyle, beloved husband of Catherine (Cathy) Vita Coyle and son of the late John Joseph and Margaret Taylor Coyle was born on September 4, 1950 in Jersey City, New Jersey.  He graduated from St. Nicholas Grammar School in Jersey City and St. Joseph’s High School in West New York.  In 1972 he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from St. Peter’s College.  Jerry was called home on March 28, 2026.

Jerry was born with an insatiable zest for life which he lovingly shared with family and friends.  The multitude of testimonials speak to his compassion, his joyous energy, his sparkling humor, his unending faith and his courage.

Jerry’s attraction to the performing arts, particularly singing and acting, began at an early age, with his joining the choir at St. Nicholas.  However, Jerry’s love of the arts truly blossomed at St. Peter’s where he joined the drama club, Argus Eyes, performing in several productions, including his favorites, Enter Laughing and Plaza Suite, and he relished the opportunities he had to perform in these productions several times during the course of his impressive career.  He thrived in the Men’s Glee Club where, recognized and respected for his dedication and leadership, he served as president during his senior year.  Jerry distinguished himself at St. Peters and was elected to “Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges”, and upon his graduation in 1972, which coincided with St. Peter’s Centennial, he was awarded one of ten Centennial Medallions.

A proud member of SAG/AFTRA/AEA, Jerry had a rich and diverse professional career spanning over 50 years, beginning with Dinner Theater in clubs like Neil’s New Yorker to Regional Theaters like Seattle Repertory Company and West End Theatre, performing in productions such as The Fantasticks and Guys and Dolls.  Satisfying his quest to see the world, Jerry began what would become a lifelong love affair with Europe, playing Doc in a European tour of West Side Story, in Germany, Austria and other European countries leading to his beginnings as a coach, teacher and mentor to aspiring performers.  Jerry, a gifted teacher, taught extensively in several renowned acting schools throughout the USA and Europe including the Weist-Baron School for Television & Film in New York City, the Film Acting School in Cologne and the Film & TV School/ Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, among others.  Continuing to marry his passions for performing and traveling, in 1999, Jerry appeared as a main stage performer on the maiden voyage of the Disney ship, The Wonder, travelling from Italy to the USA and the Caribbean.  Stateside after several tours, Jerry was proud of his work in New York theater with performances in The Boys from Syracuse, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Room Service.  As an actor, Jerry was also featured in many television commercials including Nabisco’s Chips-Ahoy, Burger King, Campbell’s Soup. His print work included representing Trader Vic’s, Sherwin Williams Paints and Sony.

All of this was achieved with the loving support and encouragement of Cathy, his soulmate and partner of 51 years, who he met right after his graduation from college during his brief teaching career in Jersey City Public Schools.  She was his counsel, his confidante, his coach and his cheerleader. Jerry loved to perform and admired the performances of others; Cathy had a keen appreciation of the arts.  They shared a love of travel, with a long list of favorite spots in Italy, birthplace of Cathy’s ancestors, Austria where they celebrated Cathy’s 70^th birthday, and Ireland, where he was just recognized as an Irish citizen.  They shared a love a family and friends and their Christmas Eve dinners, and New Year’s Eve and July 4^th celebrations in Vermont were always filled with love, laughter and good food.  They were the Dynamic Duo.

In addition to his loving wife Cathy, Jerry will be remembered by his sisters Susan Curry, and Maureen Conaty and her husband Jeff, and his brothers Timothy Coyle and John Coyle and his wife Michele, as well as his nieces, nephews and grandnephew, and scores of other family members and friends.

Visitation Monday, April 6^th, 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch.  Family and friends may gather at the funeral home Tuesday, April 7th 8:15 AM – 9:15 AM. Mass of Christian burial Tuesday April 7^th 10:00 AM at Church of St. Denis, 90 Union Avenue, Manasquan.  Burial to follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Brielle.

 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital at Give | MSK Giving or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at  http://passion.cff.org/in-memory-of-gerald-coyle