Gerard Buckhout

Gerard of Sun City West, AZ, passed away on August 22, 2018. Born on September 12, 1926, Gerard was the youngest son of Ida (Helenius) and Charles Buckhout of Tarrytown, NY.Jerry enlisted in the US Army and served in Germany during World War II. After the war, he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL under the GI Bill. On December 30, 1950, after completing the first semester at Northwestern, Jerry married the love of his life, Patricia Irene Maude Blackwall Bennett, in Tarrytown, NY.Jerry was a member of Sigma Phi and Phi Beta Kappa and earned a Bachelor's Degree at Northwestern University. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, and earned a Master's Degree in history at Columbia University in New York City. Additionally, he was awarded a teaching scholarship while attaining a Ph.D. in history at Northwestern University. Jerry began his teaching career at Simpson College in Indianola, IA and then received a Fulbright grant to Germany. While researching in Germany for his dissertation, a request was made for Jerry to lecture to German students about American History and also to lecture on German History to American students studying in Germany. Jerry and Pat enjoyed their time there in Germany, living two miles from the border of France, where they often entertained many officials at their favorite French restaurants just a few miles over the border. In 1965, Jerry was appointed by Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, under President Lyndon B. Johnson, to the consulate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for Kaduna, a former colony of the British Government, and he was acknowledged by Yakubu Gowon, head of the government at that time. In 1968, he completed Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MACV) Provincial Senior Advisor Training at the U.S. Army Special Warfare School. Pat is a descendant of the Blackwall family near Manchester, England, and she and Jerry visited the family estate every summer and traveled extensively around the world together. In 1971, Jerry and Pat settled in Schenectady, NY where Jerry was named Chairman of the department of general education at Schenectady County Community College for the humanities and social science departments. Jerry and Pat enjoyed many camping adventures around the United States. They later bought a second home in Arizona and split their time between the two homes for several years, eventually making their permanent home in Arizona to escape the snow and cold weather. Jerry loved a good debate, especially about history and politics. He was a member of the National Gallery of Art and regularly attended the New York City Ballet and Metropolitan Opera. He had a passion for life-long learning and spent his spare time writing poetry, sketching, carving, and painting.Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings: Eleanor (Joseph) Belliveau, Mildred (Monty) Perkins, Harry (Grace) Buckhout, Edna (John) Patten, Charles (Phyllis) Buckhout, Frank (Doris) Buckhout, Doris (Howard) Van Tassell, and G. Reid Buckhout. Jerry will forever be remembered by his loving wife, Patricia, of 68 years.