Yankees mourn the passing of Jerry Girardi

The New York Yankees today announced the passing of Jerry Girardi at age 81. Girardi, the father of Yankees Manager Joe Girardi, passed away on Saturday, October 6, at Snyder Village, a residential healthcare provider, in Metamora, Ill.

The elder Girardi was born on May 5, 1931, and married Angela Perino in 1959 in Tampico, Ill. The couple had five children: John, George, Maria, Joe and Jerry. Girardi is also survived by six grandchildren. His wife, Angela, passed away in 1984.

Girardi served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Later he worked in construction sales for National Gypsum Company, and he also worked as a bricklayer.

Girardi enjoyed coaching his children’s sports teams, which he did for many years and was also very active at Sacred Heart Grade School and Spalding High School, where he was a president of the Booster Club. He was also a member of St. Monica Catholic Church in East Peoria.

Visitation will take place on Sunday, October 14, at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in East Peoria from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 5:45 p.m.

There will be an additional brief visitation Monday, October 15 from 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Peoria immediately prior to the funeral mass, which will begin at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Tampico, Ill. on Monday at 2:30 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Snyder Village.

The Yankees will observe a moment of silence for Jerry Girardi prior to tonight’s ALDS Game 4 vs. Baltimore.