Kathleen “Kathy” Gershon, wife of the late Theodore “Ted” Gershon, mother of three, and grandmother of seven, passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at the age of 75, surrounded by her children in the home where she raised them.
Born in Jersey City, NJ in 1948, Kathy was the eldest of five children with a large and loving circle of uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and neighbors. Her family later moved to Northvale, NJ, where her father was the Mayor and held other political offices. In Northvale, Kathy attended Nathan Hale School and later Northern Valley Regional High School, where she made friends she kept until the last days of her life. A “Chatty Kathy” who was also an interested and thoughtful listener, Kathy made lasting friends wherever she went.
At Jersey City State College, where she trained as a teacher, Kathy met Ted, a fellow educator who shared her knowledge of politics, commitment to justice, and love of family. Ted may have been the only person in New Jersey who could match her gift for storytelling.
Kathy and Ted married in August of 1969 and went on to have three boys, Brian, Michael, and Jason. Kathy took on parenting with a characteristic mix of enthusiasm, fierceness and love. She was deeply involved in her sons’ schools and in every other aspect of their lives.
Kathy was also an adoring and hands-on Grammy. She had a knack for soothing a fussy baby and was just as captivating to toddlers. As her grandsons grew, she marveled at their accomplishments and shared with them her love of food and drink, the beach and the ocean, and traveling. Kathy and Ted were fixtures on the sidelines and in the stands, cheering on the next generation in all their endeavors.
Kathy and Ted had a grand romance, loving nothing more than spending time with one another, playfully arguing over who had the “talking stick.” They traveled far and wide together, both for Ted’s work and for pleasure, and they enjoyed spending time with their families and with their large and diverse circle of friends. Kathy and Ted were often found in their backyard or kitchen table, surrounded by family. Kathy was a great home cook and consummate hostess, making everyone feel welcome and cared for. Every Thanksgiving at Kathy and Ted’s was a feast for the ages.
Kathy volunteered for numerous charities and causes over the years, including the Hyacinth Foundation, where she supported people with AIDS in her community. Kathy and Ted were both active in the Democratic Party, attending several presidential conventions. Kathy was a longtime member of St. David the King Catholic Church in West Windsor, NJ.
Kathy was preceded in death by her mother and father, James and Gladys McGuire, her sister Noreen McGuire Prettyman, and her brothers-in-law E. Barrett Prettyman and Louis Sheffler. She is survived by two sisters and one brother, Nancy Sheffler of New York, NY, Louise (Thomas) Quinn of Sparta, NJ, and James (Stephen Coy) McGuire, Jr. of Provincetown, MA; three children, Brian (Carol) Gershon of Medford, NJ, Michael (Kate Greenwood) Gershon of Kensington, MD, and Jason (Tiffany) Gershon of Essex, VT; seven grandsons; two nephews; and two nieces.
Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pizzi Funeral Home in Northvale, NJ. A funeral service will be held at noon at Saint Anthony Roman Catholic Church, Northvale, NJ, with burial to follow at Tappan Cemetery, Tappan, NY.
Donations in her memory may be made to:
West Windsor Volunteer Fire Co #1, 153 South Mill Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550
Mercer Street Friends, 151 Mercer Street, Trenton, NJ 08611 (www.mercerstreetfriends.org)
Kathy and I have known each other since 2nd grade at Nathan Hale School in Northvale, our home town. We were both new students and new comers to the town. We were delighted to be asked by our teacher, Mrs. Unger , to create a bulletin board display for the month of March that year. We worked well together and our friendship began as we shared our love for spring and the March winds as well as daffodils and sunny skies. We were so proud of our work. That was the beginning of many years of friendship. I am privileged and blessed to know Kathy, a beautiful and caring woman and loving friend. She will be sorely missed. My condolences to her beautiful family, loving sisters and brother.
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