Gerald A. Bando, 89, died Sunday, July 21, 2024, at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH from complications of kidney failure. His family lovingly stayed by his side during his last weeks, talking, listening, and learning from his many stories.

Jerry was born July 10, 1935, in Quincy, MA, son of Gwerte and Nellie Bando. He grew up in Quincy, graduating from Quincy City High School in 1953.

Jerry's youth was spent in an Italian neighborhood filled with families of first & second generation immigrants and the daily life of family, friends, chores, and play - the sounds of Quincy granite industry saws, chisels, & bells in the background. He often spoke of his family life and of the neighborhood boys he explored and played baseball with on the street. He had strong memories of living there during WWII, of hearing about the atomic bombs dropping on Japan and his horror of what had happened to Japanese families. He grieved about the sadness of such devastating loss of life.

Jerry's childhood also coincided with the discovery of penicillin. He recalled the little glass bottles he took home from the hospital after being treated for pneumonia, knowing the benefit of the medicine had saved him from what his older brother had endured several years earlier. Two years after graduating from high school, a vaccine for polo became available - another medical miracle.

Jerry's biggest joy began when he first noticed his future wife, MaryLou, while they attended Quincy Junior High. MaryLou was kind and full of life. By high school he knew she was the one for him and as seniors, he fortunately found himself not only in the same geometry class as MaryLou, but assigned to the seat directly in front of her.

Jerry, unknowingly, had also caught MaryLou's eye. She and a dear friend devised a plan to gain Jerry's attention to get him to ask her to the senior prom. Boy, did it work! He'd danced with MaryLou at other school dances, wooing her with ice cream sandwiches, and then the ultimate prom date. The date that began a lifetime together. MaryLou & Jerry's children love this romantic story!

After high school, Jerry attended trade school to become an electrician before he and several of his friends made the decision to volunteer for the Army draft. Jerry's electrical training led him to be stationed in Alaska where he was introduced to microwave technology. The Army was using radar for the Alaskan ground-controlled intercept sites during the Korean War. Upon his return to the lower forty-eight, he started his career at Raytheon in microwave repair and manufacturing.

High school sweethearts Jerry and MaryLou married June 30, 1957. They made their first home in Framingham, MA and soon after the birth of their first child, Joan, moved to Quincy where they welcomed three more daughters - Carole, Ann, and Ellen. They lived one block from his family home, close enough for his two older daughters to walk and toddle across a neighbor's yard to meet their Papa who was waiting to help them cross the street to visit he & Grandma. Papa would often let himself into the young household during the early morning hours to watch over the four young girls, often to the surprise of their sleeping parents!

Jerry worked throughout the United States with Raytheon and after MA, moved his family to MD & then Long Island, NY. This was followed by a year to join his brother's mobile home business in Oregon. It was a big move to the West Coast and a gift to live near the Oregon Bandos during that time. The next year, Jerry's return to Raytheon brought the family to Illinois, where sons John and Peter joined the family. Soon after, the growing family moved again, this time back to New England with Jerry transferring to MA.

The family adventures and love of exploring National Parks began early. The Bando family saw a lot of the United States, traveling through many beautiful places while driving blue highways and backroads. They explored Niagara Falls, Howe and Carlsbad Caverns, the Rockies & high plains, the Tetons & Yellowstone, the shores of Oregon, Crater Lake, Mt. Rushmore, the locks of the Great Lakes and much more when moving across the country. A strong sense of interest and adventurous natures were instilled in Jerry and MaryLou's children.

It was a joy to be back with the large, extended families of Jerry and MaryLou where they and their children reconnected with grandparents, more aunts, uncles, and many, many cousins. Family get togethers became customary and extended family traditions that had been left behind resumed with their return.

Jerry, a family man who showed love by putting hard work to satisfying results, used skills he'd learned as a youth working alongside his father. He found satisfaction in keeping a house & yard beautiful and in good repair. It was important to him to keep a roof over his family's heads and to ensure delicious & healthy meals were provided. In this, we all were awed by MaryLou's cooking. Oh, my gosh, so delicious! MaryLou was a gifted cook and with lots of fun, taught her growing children to cook.

After three and a half years, Jerry took a job in management with AMF in CT. Here, MaryLou & Jerry settled their family in Old Saybrook, in a neighborhood full of other kids. He & MaryLou brought their six children and friends on countless picnics and camping trips - local lakes, ponds, and the ocean to swim and numerous excursions to local campgrounds, Martha's Vineyard & Acadia. They filled their campsites!

Eventually, in 1977, AMF brought their family on another move - to Cheyenne, WY. The west opened their eyes to magnificent wonder. Raw beauty. There in 1982 Jerry realized a long-standing dream. He established his own restaurant and culinary supply business. He discovered a niche to fill, one full of local people & conversations and finally, to be his own boss. Many of his children worked with him over the years.

Then, the first grandchild was born! Mary Lou and Jerry moved to Vermont in 1996 to be close to their grandchild. Four of their children lived within a short drive and family time commenced again. Jerry operated a microwave repair service in White River Junction for many years. He serviced restaurants throughout Vermont and New Hampshire, meeting many kind souls.

Family was always the most important thing to Jerry and MaryLou and boy did they show by example the importance of celebrating each other via family dinners, birthdays, & holidays. MaryLou's cooking lessons with her children paid off big time as they all continue these celebrations of each other to this day.

Jerry is survived by his daughters, Joan Bando (John Kaufhold; stepsons Brody, wife Jill, children Lucy and Weston; Alex, partner Molly, children Max and soon to be sibling); Carole Bando (sons Charlie and Andy); Ann Appleton (John Appleton, son Sam);  Ellen Bando (Bill Higgins, daughter Zoe); and sons John Bando; and Peter Bando. He is survived by his siblings Pauline Bando and Maria Cerchioni, and many nieces and nephews.

Jerry was predeceased by his beloved wife, MaryLou Bando; his parents; sister, Louise Erikson; and brother, Joseph Bando.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hartford Library, 1587 Maple Street, White River Junction, VT 05001

Condolences may be expressed on an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.