Gerard Turtora – June 10
Gerard Anthony Turtora of Pelham Manor, New York, and Tarpon Springs, Florida passed away on June 10, 2023. He was 93 years old. Born in the Bronx to Anthony and Assunta Turtora on Nov. 28, 1929, Gerard was the youngest of 4 children. He was raised in the Bronx where he attended Our Lady of Assumption elementary school before graduating from Manhattan Prep.
Being the youngest of four children was not easy for Gerard. His older brother Anthony (a Marine) was shot down going over Guadalcanal on a fighter jet. His older sisters Maria and Angelica died of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma about two years prior. At age 12 Gerard went from being the youngest in his family to the oldest.
After graduating from Manhattan Prep, Gerard attended Pace University. After two years at Pace Gerard would enter the workforce. He began his career at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company knocking on doors collecting 25-cent premiums. It was during his early years as a salesman he would marry the love of his life Joan Belton. They married in 1952 at St Francis de Chantal Church in Throgs Neck. The couple later moved to Queens when their daughter Susan was three years of age.
Gerard continued to work in the Bronx for Metropolitan life. His career was growing rapidly and eventually, he had the title of Metropolitan Life’s greatest salesperson. His career spanned 65 years in total. He retired from Metropolitan Life at eighty-five years of age.
Gerard and his wife Joan would move to Pelham Manor in 1974. He was an active member of Leewood Golf Club and Cyprus Run Golf Club in Florida. Gerard and Joan shared their time between Tarpon Springs, Florida, and Pelham Manor, New York.
Gerard will be remembered as a superhero. He was determined to be a success in life, yet he was a compassionate, loving, and wonderful man, totally devoted to his wife.
He is survived by his daughter Susan Belardino, his grandchildren David (Janine) Belardino and Adam Belardino. His five great grand-children, Gemma, Christian, Maddox, Rocco, and Zachary. Gerard is pre-deceased by his brother Anthony, his sisters; Angelica and Maria, and his son-in-law Mario. Gerard will be missed by everyone who knew him.
A Funeral Mass will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, located at 575 Fowler Avenue, Pelham Manor, New York on Friday, June 23rd at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at St Raymond’s Cemetery. For more information or to leave a condolence please visit pelhamfuneral.com.
Editor’s note: This obituary was provided by the Pelham Funeral Home.
