Jerry was born in West Bath on May 22, 1940, to Courtney and Ida Stover. He was a member of the Morse High School class of 1958, and graduated from the University of Maine in 1962 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He spent his years until entering college helping his Dad operate one of the few remaining dairy farms in West Bath.
Upon graduation from college, he was employed at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, CT. While living in East Hartford, he met and married Elaine Harris in 1963. In April of 1966, they moved to Danvers, MA, when he accepted a position with General Electric Aircraft Engines in Lynn, MA.
Jerry spent his career working with GE Aircraft Jet Engines in Lynn, except for the years of 1977-1979, when he was transferred to the GE Large Steam Turbine facility in South Portland, ME, where he worked in nuclear power generation.
Jerry’s early career at GE was in metallurgy, where he was awarded “The Young Engineer” award in 1968. This award is given annually to the engineer under age 30, who makes the most significant contribution to the Aircraft Group. His contribution was development of an electronic device to find and measure the extent of a potentially catastrophic metallographic condition on aircraft jet engines. He also was awarded an “Invention Disclosure” in 1979 while working in South Portland, for developing an ultra high frequency sound device to facilitate the manufacture of nuclear products.
In 1980, Jerry was transferred back to GE Lynn and he and family moved to Topsfield, MA. He joined Project Engineering and remained there until his retirement in 2001 from GE. He provided engineering input and support to both customers and the GE sales organizations for the engines on executive aircraft such as the Lear jet and Dassault Falcon Aircraft (1980 to 1988), and then in 1988 (until retirement) for engines on military fighter aircraft (F5 Freedom Fighter and the F18 Hornet) deployed by both USA and foreign countries. In these positions, he visited many customers worldwide, primarily in the USA, Europe and the Middle East.
He was a Licensed Professional Engineer in both the states of Maine and Massachusetts.
In 1966, Jerry built a log cabin on an island in West Bath, where he and his family spent most summer weekends while living in Massachusetts. He had a lifelong interest in boats, of which he had many, and used them in both Maine and Massachusetts.
Upon retirement, Jerry and Elaine built a new home on the New Meadows River in West Bath. He bought a new John Deere tractor for the fields, and a new Corvette for the road. He and Elaine lived here until the present time. He and Elaine also enjoyed traveling in retirement and took trips to Europe, and usually spent a few weeks in the winter in Florida, the West Coast, or Arizona.
He is survived by his wife Elaine of 51 years; son Jason Stover and wife Jennifer of Boxford, MA; daughter Susanne Stover and husband Eric Freeman of Hewlett Harbor, NY; granddaughter Sean and grandson Aidan Stover of Boxford, MA.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, March 20, 2015, at David E. Desmond & Son Funeral Home, 638 High St., Bath, from 4 to 6 p.m. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 21 at 10 a.m. at David E Desmond & Son funeral home.
To express your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.
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