Gerry and Robina
Stephen’s father, my bonus great-grand father, Wilfred “Gerry” McCabe, passed away on December 8, 2011 at age 85. He was born on April 2, 1926 in Boston Massachusetts. Gerry was the son of Harry G. and Mary (Doyle) McCabe. He attended Boston English High School before joining the United Sates Navy in August of 1943 during World War II. He served as a corpsman abroad the USS Henrico APA-45 a Bayfield-class attack transportation. Gerry was aboard the USS Henrico during the invasion of Normandy on “D Day” in June 1944. He was aboard the Henrico throughout the war and in April 1945 as part of the invasion of Okinawa. On his 19th birthday, April 2nd, the ship was attacked and hit by a fast “Frances” kamikaze diving out of a cloud formation headed for the USS Henrico. The suicide bomber crashed into the starboard side of the ship, causing the ships bombs to explode below the deck. The crew brought the flaming under control; however, forty-nine of his shipmates including most of the senior officers who were on the bridge at the time of the attack were killed.
Gerry returned to Boston after the war and was employed as a shipping clerk by Gilman Brothers, a drug wholesaler with headquarters in the city’s South End. He quickly earned a promotion to foreman for the shipping department and subsequently was offered a sales representative position which brought the family to Greenfield in 1953. His strong sales performance resulted in a promotion to Field Sales Manager and then to Vice President of Sales. He returned to the Boston area for these positions until his retirement in 1990. He went on to do consulting work for Cardinal Health and McKesson.
On Feb. 14, 1974, Gerry married Robina H. (Schechterle) Pekalski McCabe on the Island of Jamaica. Robina a native of Colrain, Massachusetts born on October 26, 1924 to Joseph and Sarah (Mathews) Schechterle. Robina was educated in local public schools, graduating from the former Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls, in the Class of 1942. Robina furthered her education by attending a hairdressing academy in Great Barrington, where she studied professional hairstyling.
Upon her graduation, she successfully passed her state licensure to open the Charm Beauty Salon, which she operated in Shelburne Falls for several years. She later accepted a manager’s position with the Glenby Company, which operated the former salon in Wilson’s Department Store in Greenfield for many years.
They both Robina and Gerry were communicants of the former St. James Church in South Deerfield for many years, where they had their marriage consecrated by then pastor, the Rev. Fr. Julius Jutt. Until recently, they were communicants of Holy Trinity Church in Greenfield.
They enjoyed many past times together, in particular traveling and had the good fortune to travel extensively abroad, visiting Europe, the United Kingdom and its Isles and Spain.
Robina enjoyed cooking and baking, as well as hooking and braiding rugs, and tending to her beautiful flower gardens for many years.
While in Greenfield, Gerry was active in the John Galvin #133 of the Knights of Columbus. He was a Fourth Degree Knight and served as Grand Knight for several years.
After Gerry’s retirement, he volunteered as a MedRide driver for the Greenfield Senior Center. He drove seniors to appointments locally as well as to Boston, New York City and New Hampshire. He enjoyed travelling, playing bridge, reading, movies and the Metropolitan Opera. In recent years, he very much enjoyed early morning breakfasts at Brad’s Place with his friends.
Gerry and Robina
Gerry was predeceased by his wife of 35 years, Robina Pekalski and her son Fran Pekalski. Robina H. (Schechterle) Pekalski McCabe, passed away on January 13, 2009 at age 84. She was born on October 26, 1924 to Joseph and Sarah (Mathews) Schechterle.
Survivors include her beloved husband of nearly 35 years, Wilfred G. “Gerry” McCabe, Sr., of Erving; her loving sons: Joel E. Pekalski and his wife Barbara; Angelo of Springhill, Florida; Wilfred G. “Gerry” McCabe , Jr. and his wife Jennifer of Virginia; and Stephen McCabe and his wife Susan of Shelburne. Additionally, she leaves her loving siblings Catherine Pierce of Buckland, Barbara Upton of South Deerfield, Donald Schechterle and his wife Janice of Charlemont, and James Schechterle and his wife Barbara of Georgia. Robina leaves her loving grandchildren who include Jennifer Shannon, Edward Pekalski, Seth McCabe, Shannon McCabe and Shawn McCabe, in addition to four adoring great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Edward Pekalski, as well as her son Francis Pekalski; her brothers, William, Joseph and Harold Schechterle, and her sister, Emmeline Hebert. She leaves several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as her devoted lifelong friend and former classmate, Mary Garland of Greenfield.
Gerry is survived by his sons, Jerry McCabe, Jr. and his wife Jennifer of Kennebunk Beach, ME; Stephen McCabe and his wife Susan of Shelburne; and Joel Pekalski and his wife Barbara D’Angelo of Springhill, FL. He is also survived by his brother, Robert McCabe of Plymouth, MA; and his sisters, Eileen Hannafin of York Beach, ME; Barbara DeCola of Derry, NH; and Florence Snyder of Dorchester, MA. His five grandchildren are Shawn McCabe of Somersworth, NH; Shannon McCabe Antonelli of Pittsburgh, PA; Seth McCabe of Shelburne, MA; Jennifer Shannon of Florida; and Jake Bradford of Kennebunk Beach, ME. His great grandchildren are Connor McCabe, Shana McCabe, Sophia McCabe Antonelli and Bodie Antonelli and many nieces & nephews.
After Robina’s death, Gerry was just not the same. Even though both Robina and Gerry died of failing health, I think Gerry died of a broken heart after losing his true soul mate.
