Lt. Col. Denis J. “Jerry” Driscoll, USAF (Ret), died peacefully at home on August 11, 2015.
Services will be held at a later date at the Old Post Chapel at Ft. Myer, VA and inurnment will follow with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
He was born November 4, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts with his “Red Sox” booties on. Jerry graduated from Portsmouth High School. After high school, Jerry attended and graduated from the University of New Hampshire and then went on to receive his Masters in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University.
Lt. Col. Driscoll served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1975 and was stationed at Pleiku Air Base during the Vietnam War. In 1962, he was a team member on a special assignment assisting John Glenn during his historical orbit of the earth. In 1975, Lt. Col. Driscoll and SMSgt. Fogg brought the U.S. Air Force Jr. ROTC Program to Randolph-Macon Academy and served as Commandant of Cadets until 1982 and continued his endeavors in education by teaching business classes at Shenandoah University until 1993.
Jerry enjoyed the arts, singing, dancing, playing piano and ukulele, and enthusiastically participated in the Front Royal Little Theatre. He was a kind, intelligent, and generous man, an excellent listener, and a wonderful friend and neighbor. Jerry and his wife Margerie of 56 years, were avid travelers and visited Ireland, China, Russia, Spain, Holland, Canada, and all 50 states. Their favorite destination and get away was Key West, FL.
Surviving are his children Debbi Olsen (Evan), Denis Driscoll, Dia Linn McCarter ( Edward), Darcy Driscoll, Dawn Kerns (Townsend), Dale Driscoll (Kindra), Deanna Driscoll (Steve), and Derry Driscoll (Scott); his grandchildren Robert (Kylie), Rhianna, Lara (John), Ariel, Mary Meghanne, Sarah, Katey, Ben, David, Stevie, Tyler, Matthew, Steven, and Erin; and great-grandchildren Cy, Sydney, Emma, Audrey, Tucker, Adrian, Riley, Noah, Liam, and Rebecca; his brother Jack Driscoll (Lorraine) of Sebring, FL; his sister Judy Taylor (Cliff) of Portsmouth, NH; and many other extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Margerie; daughter Mary; and grandson Keith.
The family is grateful for the exceptional service from all of the health care providers, Blue Ridge Hospice, and especially Lori Cobern. The Driscoll family is also very appreciative of all the cards, flowers, and food, sentiments, phone calls, memories, kindness, and prayers from friends and neighbors.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, VA 22601.