Gerard P. “Jerry” Melillo, 77, of Wood-Ridge passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. He was born and raised in Jersey City and moved to Wood-Ridge in 1980. Jerry graduated from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City with a degree in Marketing and worked as a sales rep for AT&T for 35 years. He loved art, music, and movies, especially James Bond. Jerry was quite an expert on ancient Rome and enjoyed history.  He was known for his quick wit and making everyone laugh.  Jerry was extremely generous and liked to take everyone out for dinner, insisting on picking up the tab.  He adored spending time with his nieces and nephews and deeply loved his wife and all of his family.

Jerry is predeceased by his parents Jerry and Alvera Melillo, and his brother-in-law, William J. Smith. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda S. Melillo; siblings, Louise Ecker of Venice, FL, Robert G. Melillo and his wife, Marylyn of Freehold, Anita J. Smith of South Plainfield, and John Melillo and his wife, Patricia of Sayreville; nieces and nephews, Jennifer Budd, Michael W. Smith, Robert J. Melillo, Lisa Melillo Tango and her husband, Dave, Jaclyn Melillo, Alison Smith, and John P. Melillo.

A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia (Route 524), Freehold Township, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 9:30 AM for the procession to his 11:00 AM Funeral Mass at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, 100 North Main Street, Marlboro. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum, 340 Ridge Road, North Arlington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jerry’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.