| Bringing to remembrance pleasant
events with classmates no longer here...
| Jerry Melville Torrence- 02/10/35 - 06/19/15 |
Jerry Melville Torrence
New York, New York |  |  |  |  |
| 1953 | 1957 | 2015 |
published on August 16, 2015
Des Moines Register Jerry Melville
Torrence Jerry Melville Torrence, 80, passed away on the evening of Friday,
June 19 at his home in New York City, after a long bout with mouth cancer. He
was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Judith Douglass Torrence, in 2002.
Jerry was born on February 10, 1935 in St. Charles, Madison County, Iowa, the
only child of James and Laura Dawn Torrence. The family moved to Des Moines when
Jerry was five, and his parents remained in that one house the rest of their lives.
Jerry's entire education was through Iowa schools, from elementary school in Des
Moines, to his years at North High, to his graduation with a BA in Business from
the University of Iowa in 1957, where he pledged the Iowa Beta chapter of Sigma
Alpha Epsilon in the spring of 1954. And for all his success and travel in later
life, that Iowa foundation remained the single most important facet of his life,
a memory that he supported emotionally and financially throughout his years. Jerry
moved to Chicago after graduation to work at Marshall Field & Company, but
an offer from Regal Rugs in New York in 1960 brought him to the city that that
became his life. He drove through the Lincoln Tunnel that May in a convertible
with Iowa plates, and a wooden ironing board lodged between luggage in the back
seat and passenger's front seat. He stayed at Regal Rugs until his retirement
in June of 2003. Jerry was fiercely loyal to his principles, the company and his
customers, an invaluable asset to Regal. His social life paralleled his business
career; Jerry's unique personality guaranteed that he did not go unnoticed in
either a Board Room or a barroom. He became a fixture in some of the most popular
retail stores, bars and restaurants in the booming Manhattan of the '60s through
the '90s. Our collective recall of Jerry's antics at both work and play would
fill a decent size coffee table book. The lasting legacy of the Torrence family,
however, was their connection to St. Charles, and, in particular, the St. Charles
Methodist Church. Jerry's parents, grandparents and Judith have been laid to rest
at this beautiful ground, and Jerry contributed generously to the upkeep of the
property for years. Jerry will be buried at St. Charles Cemetery next to his wife
Judith on Saturday, August 29th, 2015. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may
be sent to St. Charles Methodist Church, St. Charles, IA 50240 and/or Fallen and
Wounded Soldiers Fund, PO Box 33099, Bloomfield Hill, MI 48303-0003. Jerry's
60th North High Reunion in 2013: http://www.ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1953(2013.60).html
|
| | Outside
of Memorial Program; St. Charles Methodist Church; Saturday, August 29, 2015 |  |  | The
text under the photo above reads:
Jerry Melville Torrence
The one certainty
in Jerry's life was where he wanted to be laid to rest, the St. Charles Cemetery
in St. Charles, Madison County, Iowa. His grandparents, The Rev. William and Margaret
Torrence, his devoted parents, James M. and Laura Dawn Torrence, and his beloved
wife, Judith Kay Douglass Torrence, are all buried at this wonderful ground. Jerry
has contributed generously over the years to the upkeep of the property, culminating
in the new fence surrounding the grounds in 2011, dedicated to his revered family.
After Judith's tragic passing at the age of 60 in 2002, Jerry ordered a dual headstone
at her grave site; on the left was inscribed Judith's name, her date of birth,
and on the third line, her date of death. On the right side was Jerry's name,
his date of birth, and the third line left blank. Today, we gather at this site,
in the deepest of sorrows and the fondest of memories, to grant Jerry that last
wish. Our good friend, may you truly rest in peace | | Inside
of Memorial Program; St. Charles Methodist Church; Saturday, August 29, 2015 |
|
Jerry's
acquaintances in New York contacted Claradell Gergely Shedd and requested background
information on Jerry. Here is what Claradell sent to them:
Torrence Obituary;
from Warren Harding and North High classmate, Claradell Gergely Shedd; 06/29/15Jerry
Melville Torrence, 80, of New York City, died Friday, June 19, 2015 at his home.
Born February 10, 1935 in St. Charles, Madison County, Iowa, the only child of
James Melville Torrence and Laura Dawn Black Torrence, Jerry's first four years
were spent in St. Charles. After the age of five, the family had relocated to
Des Moines, IA, in the Oak Park area at 3948 8th. Jerry attended and graduated
from Oak Park Elementary in 1949, from Warren Harding Junior High in Highland
Park in June, 1950, and from North High School in June, 1953. He graduated with
a Commerce degree from the University of Iowa in 1957. Another version of
the above…
Born February 10, 1935 in St. Charles, Madison County, IA
Father:
James Melville Torrence (1905-1996)
Mother: Laura Dawn Black Torrence (1904-1992)
Moved
from St. Charles to Des Moines, IA. Lived after five years old in Des Moines at
3948 8th Street in Des Moines, IA His father was employed at the Anderson-Erickson
Dairy. Jerry's mother "adored Jerry" and was there to respond to his
every request. A fellow classmate remembers her as being a meticulous housekeeper
and extremely warm and hospitable to Jerry's visiting buddies. She never waivered.
Jerry's recognition of his parents' caring and sensitivity reached very deeply
and emotionally into Jerry's heart. After their decease, for over 18 years, Jerry
retained the ownership and continued the upkeep of their (his) empty Des Moines
home, not rearranging nor disturbing any item in its interior, and arranging to
have the lawn mowed and the windows washed. Jerry's dedication remained loyal
to the heritage, tradition, and legacy provided by his parents. During ensuing
years during his domicile in New York City, whenever visiting in Des Moines, Jerry
stayed at his "home away from home". Approximately five years ago, Jerry
finally severed his connection with this long-established homestead and sold the
property. Another version of information above….
Recall Jerry mentioning
that after the death of his parents, Jerry continued the upkeep of his and their
former residence in Des Moines, not selling that residence until about 2010. Others
have told me he left absolutely everything undisturbed and intact within his Des
Moines house, perhaps out of respect for his parents, and his intent to be loyal
to their heritage, tradition, and legacy. Also, as a indicator of the measure
of appreciation of his parents, he continued to actively participate in the maintenance
and upgrading of their (and now to be his) final resting place in the St. Charles
Cemetery. The fencing was recently replaced, and the lawns were always manicured.
Jerry was a "great detailer". He requested cremation and a "matching
urn" to that of his beloved late wife, Judith. He personally selected and
had his tombstone placed. A classmate of Jerry's at Oak Park Elementary,
Warren Harding Junior High, and North High School remembers spending endless hours
on Jerry's front porch, the residence being located on the Oak Park overhead trolley
route at 8th and Madison (3948 8th Street). Spending these hours "people
watching", Jerry had a humorous comment or observation about every individual
boarding or disembarking at Jerry's corner. Periodically, Jerry had serious comments
about "looking ahead." Another classmate recalls that Jerry's father
would daily take the two of them to Warren Harding Junior High School in the family's
1934 Plymouth. (comment from Gene Pratt) During junior high, Jerry showed
promises of being a standout at track, "really fast", because he won
every race. When he reached North High, he ran track. The 1953 track team, coached
by James Lyle, placed first in the AAU, the State Indoor, and the Triangular track
meets. At North High, Jerry participated not only in track, but also in
football and basketball. In his senior year, during a game when North High
was winning overwhelmingly, Coach George Falk said to the North football team,
"I'm embarrassed that we are winning by such a huge margin. I feel sorry
for their coach. Lay low and don't be overly aggressive in scoring." On the
next play, Jerry got the ball and ran 76 yards for another touchdown. (comment
from Jon Hockenberry) Regarding Jerry at the University of Iowa, I received
this from one of his fraternity brothers…..
To the best of my recollection,
Jerry pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) in the spring of 1954.
He became a
member of our "7 Brothers from 7 States", our group that gets together
for an Iowa football game every fall, in the early 2000's. (So named because we
all live in different states.) I believe it was shortly after his wife passed,
and we kind of became his " long distance" family.
He loved the SAE's
and loved coming to our annual fall event. He told me it was all his holidays,
Christmas & etc., rolled into one. Once we'd set the date for the football
game, he'd have his motel and airline reservations made within a day or two.
Yes,
he always flew into DM, when he came for the games. and would spend time in DM,
and also go to St. Charles, to the cemetery, to pay his respects. As I believe
you're aware, he also contributed to the upkeep of the cemetery. |
 | | St.
Charles Cemetery; St. Charles, Iowa |
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