Obituary of Gerard Matthew Peregrin

Gerard Matthew Peregrin passed away on August 4, 2012 after a two year battle with cancer. He was 68 years old and lived in Santa Cruz for the past 33 years. Jerry was born on November 13, 1943 in East Rochester, New York to his Czechoslovakian parents, Anna and Michael Peregrin. Jerry served in the U.S. Air Force for four years in Biloxi, Miss. during the Vietnam era as a training instructor for the earliest military computers. After his military service, he received a B.S. in electronic engineering from Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo and then was hired by the General Electric in Schenectady, New York where he met his wife, Sharon, whom he was married to for 40 years. After working and living in Venezuela and traveling with General Electric, the couple moved to their west side home in Santa Cruz. Jerry worked in the computer industry for the past 50 years with the Air Force, General Electric, Lockheed and then started his own business ICITE which created cognography mapping software. He also received a MBA from San Jose State. Jerry is survived by his wife, Sharon, daughter Michele and her partner, Joseph Wold; eight brothers and sisters and their families, two aunts and many cousins. Jerry was a PADI certified scuba diver who loved the ocean and fishing. In later years, he became an avid vegetable gardener. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made in Jerry's name to Holy Cross Church and Santa Cruz High School scholarship fund. Please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com to light a candle or express your condolences to Jerry's family.