Girard “Jerry” P. Gaughan EdD

Girard “Jerry” P. Gaughan EdD ’50, 92, passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2024. He was the husband of Barbara Gaughan.

Girard Paul Gaughan (Jerry) EdD age 92 of Palmyra, PA passed from this life to his next great adventure on July 25th 2024. Jerry was born in Scranton, PA on March 25, 1932. He moved back to the Hershey area as he is a Milton Hershey School graduate and always considered this area home. He has been a resident in Palmyra for the past 28 years.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Barbara (Fink), his daughter Ann M (Savkova) (Yuri Savkov), his two sons, Vincent J (Cynthia) and John M (Betsy), his daughter Kathleen and Step son Michael Fink (Brenda), fourteen grandchildren, Jason Gaughan, Griffin Gaughan, Quinn Gaughan, Liam Gaughan, Ryan Gaughan, Sasha Savkova-Walker (Chris), Yanna Savkova-Horsch (Dan), Michael Fink, Kristen Fink, Kaylee Fink, Dillon Fink, Mathew Fink, Karlee Fink, Kassidy Fink, and one great grandchild Rory Peppard. He was predeceased by his mother, Mary Gaughan, father Paul Vincent Gaughan, brother Paul Gaughan and sister Ann Bunnell.

After retiring Jerry and Barb loved to travel the country and experience new places. He was Secretary of the Milton Hershey School Alumni Association for several years and both Jerry and Barb were heavily active in the Alumni Association. Together they also served on the Board of the local AARP chapter.

Jerry’s distinguished career was the product of ability, dedication to doing what is right and an enormous capacity for work. Coming from modest means he learned at an early age the importance of diligence, drive and persistence. Jerry was a 1950 graduate of the Hershey Industrial School for boys (now Milton Hershey School, MHS), Hershey Junior College, Wilkes College (B.S. Degree in Commerce and Finance) and received his Masters (1962) and Doctorate (1967) in education from Rutgers University. In addition, he also earned his teaching certificate at Miami University. He served in the Army from 1953 – 1955 in Germany.

Jerry retired from Kutztown University in 1991 where he was the Dean of Administration. Among his many accomplishments are the creation of the Kutztown University Foundation; Office of Cultural Diversity (where he served as the first Director of Equal Opportunity in Sports); and he was instrumental in creating the Office of Public Relations and Publications. Jerry played a major role in the planning, designing and construction of several buildings on campus – Keystone Hall and the Field House, Lytle Hall and University Place, the Beekey Building, Bonner Hall, the Maintenance building and the Administration Building. He coordinated every commencement ceremony from 1970 – 1991. Additionally he recommended the purchase of Kutztown University’s own PBX (Private Branch Exchange) which is the equivalent to running a small telephone company for the residents. Prior to his employment at Kutztown University he was Administrative Assistant to the president and Assistant Registrar at Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey). He started his career as an English Teacher at Grace Junior High School in Hamilton Township, NJ and English Teacher at Allentown High School, NJ.

Jerry had a wonderful sense of humor and an incredible capacity for remembering the names, dates and places and circumstances of almost everyone he met. He often regaled his friends and family with detailed stories of his many adventures growing up, serving in the Army, Milton Hershey School and his lengthy career. He was much loved by not only his immediate family but his many nieces and nephews, Alumni friends and former students.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends spending time with your loved ones and stopping to smell the roses (as Jerry often suggested).