Jerry Dostie Passes Away
1975 Monadnock Champion Won at Norwood, Monadnock, Thompson & Waterford
Gerald E. Dostie Sr.
1/14/1935 – 2/8/2022
It is with great sadness the Dostie Family is announcing the passing of their father, Gerald Sr. “Jerry” on February 8th, 2022. To those who knew Jerry, he was larger than life. He was also loved and admired by many. During his lifetime, Jerry was a small business owner, race car driver, skier, pilot, avid golfer, husband, father, and friend. There was not much Jerry did not try and successfully accomplish in his 87 years of life.
Jerry was born in 1935 in Skowhegan Maine. Jerry was the son of Gerald J. and Ruth Kilgore Dostie. He was one of 8 children to include: Connie McHenry, Charlene Poulin, Paul Dostie (deceased), JoAnne Stevens (deceased), Margaret Severance (deceased), Patricia Boyle (deceased), and Geraldine Turner.
He moved to Guilford in 1956. When in Guilford, he met and married the love of his life, Margaret “Betty” Bishop in 1957. They had 4 children: Linda married to Chris Kelly, Gerald Jr. “Gene”, Paul married to Jeanne McManus, and Brian married to Kris Gelo. After the passing of Betty, Jerry remarried Ann Brewster. Jerry leaves behind 7 grandchildren, Erin Kelly married to Tom Goodrich, Christopher Kelly married to Tim Gruneisen, Kristen Dostie married to Dylan Laprise, Allison Dostie, Paige Dostie, Mackenzie Dostie soon to be married to Michael Milano Jr., and Keegan Dostie.
Jerry was married to Betty for 49 years until her sudden and untimely passing in 2006. His beloved son Paul recently passed in May of 2021 from Glioblastoma brain cancer. The passing of both Betty, Paul, and now Jerry is difficult for the family, but they are comforted to know the trio are together again in their eternal life.
Jerry started Jerry’s Transmission Service in Guilford, CT over 60 years ago. His sons Paul and Brian took over the business in the late 1980s when Jerry moved to Daytona Beach, Florida. Jerry lived in Florida until his passing where he died peacefully after a short illness.
Racing was a real passion for Jerry and he had many successful seasons racing the NASCAR modified stock circuit up and down the east coast. During those racing years, his family was always in the stands cheering him on. Jerry retired from racing in 1977 but remains a legend in the New England racing scene today. However, when in Florida after many years in retirement, he did get back in the driver seat racing a Legends car and won the season championship.
Jerry became a private pilot in the early 1980s and traveled far and wide in his Mooney airplane with his wife Betty. Once living in Florida, he became an avid golfer… a sport he thought was ridiculous in his younger years.
The family will be having a private service for Jerry but will have a Celebration of Life in honor of their father on Father’s Day June 19th from 1-3:30 p.m at the Martin-Bishop Memorial Field, 111 Long Hill Rd, Guilford CT. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Paul Dostie KARE Foundation, Inc. The website is https://pauldostiekarefund.org. Jerry would be so proud to know the donations will help support a mission honoring his beloved son Paul.
Sources: Shoreline Times