BRUNSWICK — Colonel J. Roger Gerrish (USAF, Retired) age 82 of Brunswick died Sunday August 14th at the family residence on Federal Street. He was born in West Bath May 23, 1934 the son of Clarence and Mary Gerrish. He was a 1953 graduate of Brunswick High School. Col Gerrish received an Associates Degree in Electronics from Maine Vocational Technical Institute (MVTI – South Portland) before moving to Harlingen, TX where he was commissioned a 2d Lt. through the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program in 1957.

On March 15, 1958 he married the former Joan L. Belanger of Brunswick.

Over the next 30 years, Col Gerrish’s distinguished military career took him and his family across the United States and around the world. A decorated combat veteran, he was a Master Navigator/ Electronic Warfare Officer/ Weapons System Officer with over 3,000 flying hours in the B-47, B-58, RF-4C & F- 111A aircraft. Roger is also the first aviator from Maine to fly twice the speed of sound (Mach 2). Later in his career, Col Gerrish would serve in several prestigious positions to include a select tour as the US Air Attache’ to France (US Embassy Paris). He retired from military service at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in 1987.

Following his retirement, Col Gerrish settled in Austin, TX, where the focus of his life turned toward being with his family and doing community service and volunteer work. He was a 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Air Force Association, the Association of Old Crows, the B-58 Association, the Red River Rats, and the Austin Community Eagles Society (ACES).

Roger is survived by his wife Joan; his Daughter Tracy and her wife Sandra; his Son Wayne and his wife Carolyn; his Sisters Louise Morang and Corrine Miner; and Brother Clarence “Sonny” Gerrish; and grandchildren Ceri, Stephanie & Kendall.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John’s Catholic Church-All Saints Parish, Pleasant St., Brunswick at 1:00pm, Saturday, Aug 20th. Colonel Gerrish will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full Military Honors.

Memorial donations may be made to Veterans Committee, BPOE 2043, 179 Park Row, Brunswick, ME, 04011.

Arrangements are by Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick, where memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com