Gerard Ignatius McAlinden Sr. passed away at age 87 with his family by his side, on October 28, 2020, in Skillman, NJ. Gerard was born in Hopewell, NJ, to Merritt and Ethel McAlinden on May 14, 1933. He was an avid motorcyclist, purchasing his first motorcycle at nine years old; he loved antique Indian motorcycles and later taught all of his children how to ride. After graduating from Princeton High School, Gerard served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Next, he began his career as an explosives specialist, joining his brothers, Joe and Merritt, at McAlinden Corporation, pioneering uses for explosives in precision demolitions and industrial cleaning applications for the petro chemical industry.
Gerard also had a deep love for aviation, learning to fly light aircraft in the late 1950s, later lead him to flying crews all over the country for McAlinden Corp. He enjoyed being a pilot so much that he joined Pan American Airways, where he retired as a captain in 1988, amassing over 20,000 hours in the air and around the world.
Later in life, Gerard took interest in dancing and enjoyed years of Irish dancing and ballroom dancing with his wife, Patricia. Gerard was also a life long member of St. Alphonsus Church and had a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Gerard was preceded in death by his brothers, Joseph and Merritt McAlinden, and his sisters, Ann Marie and Evelyn McAlinden. His first wife, Fannie LaFlash McAlinden, and their son, Gerard McAlinden Jr., as well as his second wife, Hilary McAlinden, also preceded him. Gerard is survived by his wife, Patricia Mason McAlinedn; sister, Elanoroa Kolbert; daughter, Catherine Travagline; son, Joseph McAlinden and lifetime partner, Jeff Bynum; son, Patrick McAlinden and wife, Kim McAlinden; step-daughter, Linda Hartley and husband, Alan Hartley; step-son, Glen Rance; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, and many more dear family members.
Visitation will be held Sunday, November 1st from 3 to 5 p.m. at Saint Alphonsus Church, and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, November 2nd beginning at 10 a.m. at Saint Alphonsus Church, 54 East Prospect St., Hopewell NJ 08525 with interment following in Saint Alphonsus Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Saint Alphonsus Church are gratefully requested. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cromwell-Immordino Memorial Home, 2560 Pennington Rd, Pennington, NJ 08534. Condolences may be made to www.CromwellImmordinoMemorialHome.com. Cromwell-Immordino Memorial Home 2560 Pennington Rd. Pennington, NJ 08534 (609) 737-1498
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Published in “The Times, Trenton,” on Oct. 31, 2020.