Jerold Field Tucker

A kind and gentle soul, Jerold Field Tucker, passed away on December 18, 2024.

Jerry was born on January 26, 1950 in Binghamton, NY to John Frederick and Marion Field Tucker. He graduated from Chenango Valley High School in 1968 and maintained many close relationships with classmates over the years.

In 1972, Jerry earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bryant College where he regularly snuck into the neighboring Brown University campus (mainly) to socialize and, on rare occasion, to use their library. After a brief stint in the “business world”, he realized that his calling lay in human services.

Upon his graduation from Boston College with a Master’s degree in Mobility Instruction, Jerry (an Eagle Scout and always a lover of nature) and his first wife, Kathleen Sepos Tucker, relocated to Madawaska Lake, Maine where Jerry worked for 15 years as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the State of Maine Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Having lived through the Vietnam War era and managing to avoid the war, Jerry was greatly affected by his relationships with those who served and the effects that the war had on them. As a result, he pivoted to working as a Readjustment Counseling Technician/Specialist at the Caribou Veteran’s Center from 1996 until his devastating early Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2015.

In his mid-30’s, Jerry took up rowing, and, at his beautiful home on Madawaska Lake, pursued a many decades-long love of the sport. He was a member of USRowing and competed successfully in many large races, including the Head of the Charles. In the winters, he often traveled to racing camps in Florida to perfect his technique. And, he happily provided rowing instruction to anyone interested in learning the sport. As one observer noted: “So, he was that crazy guy I saw all the time rowing on the lake until it iced over!” He also ran several marathons, including the Boston Marathon. When the lake was frozen over, and he couldn’t row, Jerry spent many winter days cross country skiing, listening to Willie Nelson and other country outlaws or Miles Davis (Jerry was a decent jazz trumpeter in his youth), and shoveling copious amounts of snow off his roof at the lake. Jerry was a member of the North Lakes Volunteer Fire Department.

In 1987, Jerry married Constance Weissinger Simon who was devoted to him until her death in October 2021. Jerry moved into St. Joseph’s Memory Care, Frenchville, ME in June 2020 where staff lovingly provided his care until his death. Thank you, St. Joseph’s staff! We are eternally grateful.

Jerry is survived by his “favorite” (and only) sister, Holly (Emanuel) Cestero of Trumansburg, NY, three nieces, Elena Cestero (Joaquin Cuevas), Gabriela Cestero, Viviana Cestero, and great nieces and nephews, Theodore and Cecilia Zyburo, Nicolas Cuevas and Carolina Cestero. His step-children, Tomas and Mark Simon, Bennet Flinner and their children survive him as well.

A private ceremony honoring the lives of Jerry and Connie will he held at a later date. Their ashes will be joined together at their request and returned to the earth.

Donations can be made to The Nature Conservancy, National Rowing Foundation, Aroostook House of Comfort, or Alzheimer’s Association in Jerry’s name. Most importantly, please honor Jerry’s memory by taking a paddle on a lake or a hike in the woods. Enjoy nature. That’s what Jerry would do.