Gerald John Healy

A graveside funeral will be held for Jerry at Desert Rose Memorial Gardens (Alai Drive) Desert Rose Baha'i Institute (1950 W William Sears Dr, Eloy, AZ 85131) - at 10am on Friday, April 26.

OBITUARY

Jerry Healy of Eloy, Arizona transitioned to the ‘Abhá Kingdom on April 23, 2024 in Chandler, AZ. Born Friday, January 13, 1939, Jerry always liked to say that Friday the 13th was his lucky day.

     The younger of the two sons of John Healy and Ethel Graham Healy, Jerry greeted this world in Elmont, NY and was raised in various parts of the state.

     Jerry earned double Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics from Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY followed by post-graduate studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and USC.

     Interested in electronics from a young age, Jerry devised a method to convert Hi Fi into stereo while in high school. The family still has the three speakers he built. As a teenager he wrote an article about his process which was published in Popular Mechanics. That achievement was an important

part of his resume during his post-college job search.

     The article led a representative of Sikorsky Aircraft to remark, “So you’re interested in noise. You ought to come work for us.” He did. The job led to his significant career in acoustics. With Sikorsky, Jerry’s responsibilities included noise prediction and noise control in both fixed and rotary-winged aircraft.

     In 1966, Jerry accepted a position with Lockheed and moved to California. During his career he worked with numerous major aircraft companies. His creativity combined with his deep knowledge and skills opened new avenues that led him to success in groundbreaking areas of aircraft acoustics. Most of his work was classified and included projects with DARPA and NASA. After he wrote a chapter for a book on behalf of DARPA, he was informed he would not receive a copy of the completed volume since it was above his classification! Other professionals in acoustics have cited his work.

     On November 22, 1963, a blind date with Ginny Perkins marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life. He proposed in May 1964 and just four months later, on September 19, they married. They soon welcomed two children, son Jonathan and daughter Kimberly. Their family unit has remained strong and united and unlike so much of our disconnected western society, they still live together and support each other.

     Jerry and Ginny embraced the Bahá’í Faith in 1968 and actively served in many capacities. From 1976 – 1978 they worked at the National Bahá’í Center where Jerry covered the Conference and Convention Desk. His favorite part was not included in his official duties: he loved the opportunity to drive airport runs for members of the National Spiritual Assembly and visiting Hands of the Cause of God.

     Jerry’s parents and his brother Richard Graham Healy preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Virginia Perkins Healy, and his children, Jonathan Healy and Kimberly Healy, of Eloy, Arizona .

Virginia Healy
healy@pipeline.com or virginia.healy@gmail.com
Eloy, AZ
760-612-6688
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Hadith: O God, let me see things as they really are