Gerald “Jerry” R. Long
Gerald “Jerry” R. Long ’55, 85, passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at Country Meadows of Hershey. He was the husband of Elaine Long.
Gerald “Jerry” Long
Gerald Robert Long, LTC USAR (Ret), 85, of Hershey passed away on February 23, 2023 in Country Meadows of Hershey. He was born May 31, 1937 in Altoona, PA, the son of the late Fay F. Long and Violette C. (Gibson) Long.
Jerry was a proud 1955 graduate of the Milton Hershey School. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Gettysburg College and a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Shippensburg University.
He was employed by the Milton Hershey School as a teacher, counselor, advisor and coach. Later, he managed alumni records and the scholarship fund for students until his retirement in 2002. He received the MHS Alumni Association Service Award in 2017 and was inducted as a member of the Spartan Hall of Fame for basketball in 2012. He also proudly served in the National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve for over 28 years, as a helicopter pilot, educator and graduated from the Command and General staff school at the War College in Carlisle. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Hershey, serving on several committees, teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Elaine (Huber) Long; sons, Todd (Richard) and Michael (Michelle); grandchildren, Katharine, Malachi (Carissa), Grace & Benjamin; sisters Lois Peterman, Nancy Thomas and Doris Steindel. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Calvin and Dick, and sisters Jean Quiggle and Edythe Kern.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, March 4th at the First United Methodist Church in Hershey with a visitation beginning at 1:00pm. Interment will be in the Hershey Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Lifesong Hospice, 3880 Tecport Drive, Suite 2, Harrisburg, PA 17111 or the First United Methodist Church, 64 W. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033.