Obituary of Gerald J. Wargo

Gerald J. Wargo Sr. 78 of Ewing passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton. Born in Trenton, Jerry lived in Wilmington, Delaware for 16 years, then returned back home to Ewing with his family in 1976. Jerry was a Korean War veteran having served in the Air Force where he was on the Air Force baseball team. He graduated from Elsinore Naval Military School in California, earned his Associates degree from Wesley College and a Bachelors degree from Thomas Edison State College in 1998. Recently, he went to graduate school at LaSalle University. Jerry was Director of Recreational Activities for both the Governor Bacon Health Center in Delaware City, and the Wilmington Senior Center in Wilmington, Delaware. He had over twenty years experience working with emotionally disturbed children and geriatrics with numerous articles published. He was Director of Group Living for the Salvation Army Ivy House in Philadelphia. Jerry then became a Single Copy Marketing Director for both the Trenton Times and the Trentonian. Since 1997 Jerry had been a proud baseball and football coach along with being an educator at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville before his retirement in 2009. Baseball was Jerry’s true passion in life and some would say his heart was made of a baseball. He dreamed of being on the Phillies and turning the team around when they were at their worst while he still played. However his biggest successes came from coaching where he was able to touch hundreds of young aspiring players’ lives. He coached an American Legion baseball team in Delaware to the Legion World Series. He also managed a team for the American Legion Post 414 in Lawrenceville. “Coach” wrote and published a book called “The Fundamentals of Baseball” in it’s second printing. While being a sports lover, Jerry was also a connoisseur of the arts as he helped to run and produce the family’s theatrical production company, Stars In The Park. The man of many hats was affectionately known as “Poppi” by his beloved grandchildren and students at Notre Dame while his colleagues referred to him as “The Mayor.” Son of the late Joseph Paul and Florence Agusta Lennox Wargo, he is survived by his loving wife, Lorraine D’Onofrio Wargo, who he would affectionately call “Raindeer,” his children; Diane Wargo and Michael Wargo, and his grandchildren Chelsea, Michael, and Jack Gerald Wargo. He is also survived by his sons; Gerald Wargo, Jr. and Christopher Wargo as well as many special family members and friends. Jerry also leaves behind some faithful furry friends, his four dogs. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 9:30 AM at the Sacred Heart Church in Trenton. Burial will be in the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown. Friends may call on Monday from 6 to 9 pm at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jerry’s name to Notre Dame High School, 601 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.