Gerard "Jerry" A. Roy
March 26, 1949 ~ February 22, 2021
Gerard A. Roy, “Jerry,” or more affectionately, “Pop Pop,” as he was known by his beloved grandchildren, lived what was, by all accounts, a wonderful, full, dynamic, and influential life. Jerry was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts to Rocca Orefice and Gerard O. Roy. He served in the US Army, followed by a career in federal law enforcement and public service. In 1989, he was confirmed as the first Inspector General of the Peace Corps, where he worked until his tenure expired in 1992. His professional work is cited as contributing to OIG independence that is essential to allow the office to provide appropriate oversight. He became the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations at the Smithsonian Institution, the position from which he eventually retired. He studied martial arts including Judo and later, Aikido, which he taught for over 30 years around DC and Northern Virginia, achieving Yondan (4th degree black belt).
In his community, he started and led a neighborhood watch program. After his retirement from his government career, he became a licensed massage therapist, Reiki Master, and practiced the art of Healing Hands, continuing to grow the ways in which he touched people’s lives, both physically and emotionally. In retirement, he also became a minister, rising to the position of Bishop of the Universal Anglican Church, influencing, guiding, and advising others spiritually. He was very generous, whether donating his time to others, or money to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He was an avid reader, a collector of books, a deep thinker, and a lover of humanity.
He is remembered for his wide and varied interests, including an amazing talent for playing and singing music, as well as having an incredibly vivid imagination, great sense of humor, and the quality of having never met a stranger. He was accomplished academically, professionally, and spiritually, but his greatest joy came from being with and loving his family to the end of the earth. He leaves behind his loving wife of over 35 years, Mary, three children, Jason (Lori), Justin (Kimberly), and Jessica (Chuck), and 6 grandchildren, Daniel, Maddox, Delaney, Olivia, Colin, and Caroline.
His last act was to be an organ donor, which he was proud to be. He lived his life in the service and protection of others, guiding and caring for people, being a shining light in the darkness, doing his part to relieve suffering wherever it was found.
In lieu of flowers and as a means to remember him, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Jerry’s name.
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And one more thing, Luz Escobar, Claudia Barretto, Camila Acosta, Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, Maykel Osorbo and some other people from the environment of 27N or Movimiento San Isidro would be very happy if they could go out the door because they are from the police or stressed by state security and actively avoided from doing so without giving Reasons Not only that, some have even had their telecommunications blocked so they can neither make phone calls nor be in contact via the Internet. It’s like Human Rights Day in Cuba. Cuba officially marked the day and boasted of compliance while keeping rankings of people in virtual detention at home and even arresting some as a precautionary measure in an apparent effort to quell protests. That seems to be the purpose Once again because after all, you want to be able to hold the geriatric congress… um… party conference undisturbed. It would be “completely presumptuous” if the people would also make demands!