Mr. Jerome J. Belanger's Obituary
Jerome “Jerry” Belanger, age 87, passed away on April 23rd, 2026, in McKinney, Texas. Jerry and his beloved wife, Mary, shared 67 wonderful years of marriage together. Jerry followed Mary’s passing, who departed in February. Jerry battled Parkinson’s Disease and died of complications from the disease. We are comforted to know that Jerry and Mary are happily together, probably sailing off into the sunset.
Jerry, the eldest of ten children, was born July 29, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan where his family lived. He was a beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle, father, husband, grandfather and friend.
Jerry lived life large. As a teenager he was an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from St. Philip Neri High School. After serving heworked in the Detroit Fire Department before settling into a career as a journeyman and later as a salesman in commercial HVAC construction.
Jerry was a competitive trap & skeet shooter at the Detroit Sportsman Club as a young man until both he and his wife, Mary, discovered their love of sailing. They started with a trailable 16 ft O’Day and ended with a 42 ft Tartan all named Whisper. Sailing was their shared passion and informed nearly every decision they made, from interior decorating to where they chose to live.
Jerry and Mary loved sailing in the Great Lakes and were active members of their local yacht club participating in racing, volunteering, and serving as committee chairs during their time in Gibraltar, MI. After retiring, they sailed down the intracoastal waterway and lived abroad in the Caribbean before settling down in North Port, Florida where they were equally involved at the Harbor Cove Yacht Club. Whether it was sitting on a committee or organizing an event, Jerry and Mary were on hand.
Jerry is survived by his children, his daughter, Dawn Lovejoy, her husband, Mark Lovejoy, their children Brendan and Connor Pauley who all live in Massachusetts. His son, Michael Belanger, his partner, Suzanne Hogan, and his daughter Michelline (Mish) Belanger are all in Michigan. And David Belanger, his wife, Terri Belanger, and their children Tricia Mark, Jenna Mark, Lucas Belanger, Jia Belanger, and Kate Belanger all in Texas – all of whom will forever cherish his memory.
Currently there is a Celebration of Life being planned for both Jerry and Mary to take place in Michigan. Details to follow. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Davis Phinney Foundation in support of Parkinson’s research.
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