Deceased August 25, 2021

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In Memory

Jerry Cross passed away on August 25, 2021. He was 92 years old.

Jerry was born in Newton, Massachusetts, in July of 1929. He was the son of Gorham L. Cross Sr. and Margaret (Warren) Cross.

Jerry was educated in the Wellesley public schools and later at the Noble & Greenough School, graduating in the Class of 1948. He later received a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College in 1952.

Right after his graduation, he married the love of his life, Joan Wells Felton. Their marriage of 68 years ended only last year when Joan passed away in December.

Jerry had a very distinguished career in the printing and publishing industries. He began his career at the Banker & Tradesman Press in Cambridge. Upon its dissolution in 1955, he formed the Nimrod Press and built it into the third largest printer in Boston. In 1973, he joined Warren, Gorham, & Lamont, a family-owned publisher of legal and business information services, serving as chairman of the board. Upon its sale in 1980, Jerry worked as a consultant to various printing and publishing firms. His final venture was the purchase of Fidelity Press in Everett, where he served as chairman until its sale in 2000.

In their latter years, Jerry and Joan traveled widely both domestically and internationally. They spent their summers in their seaside home in Woods Hole and their winters in Boca Grande, Florida.

Jerry was active in charities. He served as a trustee of both the Noble & Greenough School and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. He was extremely mindful of how well life had treated him and was always willing to help someone out who was down on his luck.

Jerry’s major hobby in life was vegetable gardening. In its pursuit, he took a back seat to no one. He was also an avid photographer of shore birds and published a book of his pictures. 

Jerry is survived by three children, John Cross ’77 (Peggy), Jennifer Peterson (Curt), and Heather Woodworth (Charlie), as well as six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In addition to Joan, he was predeceased by a sister, Margaret Bean, as well as two brothers, Theodore ’46 and Warren ’50.

Jerry was a veteran of the Massachusetts National Guard, retiring at the rank of first lieutenant.

At Jerry’s request, there will be no services. 

John Cross ’77