Tributes

Jerry Lee Latta (78) of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, passed away at Georgetown Hospital on October 1, 2022, after courageously battling a number of serious illnesses for more than 7 years. He was loving, patient, and always hopeful to the end. His many caregivers looked forward to being with him, as he always had a kind word, and never lost his incredible sense of humor. Jerry was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma, but lived in Raton, New Mexico until he moved to Oklahoma City during his sophomore year, where he enrolled at Classen High School and met his wife Susan in 10th grade Algebra class. Upon graduation, he received the highest award, The Anton H Classen, Medal of Honor. Jerry attended the US Naval Academy and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a major in Engineering Physics. He went on to earn his MBA at Oklahoma City University. Jerry was very proud to have worked for IBM for 34 years, retiring in 2001. He started in sales in Oklahoma City, but became a good example of IBM's early acronym of “I've Been Moved” after taking on a Marketing Manager position in the Los Angeles area, and then a Branch Manager position in Chicago, before finally settling in Wilton, Connecticut where he lived with his family for 25 years. He held many, varied IBM executive positions in New York and Connecticut, and also spent seven years as an expatriate for IBM in Tokyo, Japan. Jerry thoroughly enjoyed “traveling the world”, playing recreational golf, watching University of Oklahoma Football and Boston Red Sox games, and spending quality time with his extended family at their cottage on Lake Rescue in Ludlow, Vermont, where he was an active member of the Lake Rescue Association. In South Carolina, Jerry spent over 10 years as a dedicated volunteer at Brookgreen Gardens where he thoroughly enjoyed being a “Meeter/Greeter” at their luncheon restaurant and was happy spending many hours at their renowned Nights of a Thousand Candles December event. Jerry is survived by Susan, his best friend, favorite caregiver, and wife of 56 years. In addition, he will be greatly missed by his 2 sons, Blinn Latta, of Pelham, New York, and Blake Latta, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and his daughter, Laura Clinton, of Naperville, Illinois. He will be lovingly remembered by his 10 grandchildren: Nathan, Megan, Caroline, and Henry Latta; Sean, Conor, Jack, and Colleen Clinton; and Elizabeth and William Latta. Jerry was pre-deceased by his grandmother, Gladys Acton, his parents Iris and Helen Latta, and his brother Ron Latta. He is survived by his sister, Sue Caldarelli, of Pass Christian, Mississippi, and his brother, Tim Latta, of Vista, California. Jerry and Tim had an unusually close relationship, as Tim came to live with Jerry and Susan at the age of nine after their parents passed away at early ages. Tim's children, Chimay Allis, and Ryan Latta, considered Jerry as a grandfather. “Jer”, as he became fondly known, will also be missed by his daughters-in-law, Allison Latta and Penny Latta, and by his son-in-law, Ryan Clinton. He will also be remembered by his nieces, Kelly Haeusler of Destin, Florida and Debra Hebert of Covington, Louisiana, who were both happy to have visited him quite recently. In addition, Jerry was quite close to Susan's 2 sisters, Trudy Stewart of Hendersonville, North Carolina, and Diane Kenney of Cape Coral, Florida. Trudy has referred to Jer as “the brother she never had” and her daughter, Stacy Mack, and Stacy’s sons, Austin and Alex Mack of Stamford, Connecticut, are very much part of Jerry Latta's close, extended family. Memorial donations can be made to the Lake Rescue Association in Ludlow, Vermont, or for continuing research for Parkinson's Disease or Type 1 Diabetes. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Litchfield-Pawleys Chapel assisted the family.

Tributes

Jerry Lee Latta

July 19, 1944 - October 1, 2022