Jerome A. French of Chatham, passed away peacefully on April 2nd at Columbia Memorial Hospital. Born June 26 1911 in Oyster Bay, NY, he was the son of Joseph M. and Louise E. Chevalier French. A graduate of Oyster Bay High School and the University of Alabama, Jerry was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He later enlisted in the Army and was in Hq. 20th Armored Group. He took part in four landings; Leyte, Beybe, Ormonkand and Okinawa.  After the Leyte landing he received Field Commission and was attached to the Armored Infantry as a First Lieutenant. He married Isabel K.  Robertson French on December 22, 1943 and moved to Chatham in 1949.  It was then that he founded the J.A. Funeral Home now the French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl Funeral Home. He retired from the funeral business in 1974 and joined his beloved wife as an associate at Isabel K. French Realtor. During his time in Columbia County, Jerry was a member of the Board for Columbia Memorial Hospital, Chairman of the Board for Columbia Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Past President of the American Cancer Society, Board member of the Columbia County Historical Society, Past President of the Exchange Club, Trustee of Saint James R.C. Church, President of the Tracey Memorial, Board member of Hudson City Savings Institution, Past President and Board member of the Columbia County Association, Board member of the Old Chatham Hunt Club, Board member of the Columbia Golf and Country Club, the original County Chairman of the Columbia County Planning Board, Former County chairman of the American Red Cross,  Chairman of the Chatham Village Christmas Tree Lighting Committee, life member of Ocean Company #1 Company of the Chatham Fire Department, Treasurer of the Chatham Rescue Squad, Past Commander and life member of the Ghent V.F.W. Post, Past Commander and life member of the Chatham American Legion, board member of the YMCA, member of the County, State and National Boards of Realtors, member of the Knights of Columbus and Past President of the Fifty Club. Jerry was a man that truly gave back to his community. He was most proud of his role of  bringing the Chatham Family Care Center and the Hudson City Savings Branch (First Niagara) to Chatham, as he was in assisting in bringing the US Post Office to its current location here and his involvement with Columbia Memorial Hospital. He is survived by his loving son; Dr. John R. French and countless friends. He was predeceased by his most loving wife of 60 years, Isabel K. "Robbie" French, and his sister Rita French.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday April 5th at Saint James Church, Chatham, at 11am. Interment will follow at Saint James Cemetery, Ghent. Arrangements are under the direction of the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, Chatham. To send an online condolence visit www.frenchblasl.com. Contributions in Jerry's memory may be made to the Columbia-Green Hospital Foundation, 71 Prospect Ave., Hudson, NY 12534.