Obituary of Gerard M. McLoughlin

Gerard Michael McLoughlin passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026. He was 92 years old.

With his mind sharp as ever, he spent the last few weeks of his life surrounded by family members reminiscing about the past, solving the NY Times Crossword puzzle and laughing.

He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Frances McLoughlin.

Born on June 6, 1933 to Michael and Anne McLoughlin, Gerard was the youngest of  three brothers. As with many children growing up in the Bronx during the 30s and 40s, Gerard spent many days playing and watching baseball. He often talked about paying his nickel to watch the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds.

On his 75th birthday he had the opportunity to walk on the field at Yankee Stadium and take a patch of grass from the old stadium before they built the new stadium. In general, he was a fan of all New York sports teams and enjoyed the championships won by the Yankees, Mets, Jets and Giants, even attending the XXVI Superbowl to cheer on the Bills.

After graduating from St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School in 1951, Gerard enlisted in the US Army and served his time overseas in Germany. He was proud of his time in the army and the service he provided as the company clerk. He often joked about the experience of driving his commander around in a Jeep despite never having gotten his license or operating a clutch!

Honorably discharged in 1953, Gerard took advantage of the GI Bill and attended Fordham University where he achieved his teacher of English certificate and his masters degree shortly after. He worked as an English teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx for 30 years, where he was respected, beloved, and remembered for his wit and wisdom. Never one to sit idle, Gerard continued his own education and became a paralegal for a law firm in White Plains. As a teacher, he spent his summers doing odd jobs to help pay for family vacations, as well as enjoying the time “off”. His yearly trek with his family of 8 to the Jersey Shore was something to look forward to. Spending two weeks with family and college friends and their families on the beach and playing bridge was a highlight of everyone’s summers. 

In 1961 he married Frances McLoughlin (Cloonan) and they grew their family with six children. Deirdre (Reich), Christopher, Peter, Patricia (O’Donnell), Karen (Sorlien) and Gerard Jr. They lived in Tuckahoe, NY for 40 years before moving to Somers in 2005.

During the early years, Gerard and Frances were very active in their children’s activities as well as their town and school communities. Gerard ran for trustee of the Village of Tuckahoe and in 1982 was one of the first Democrats to win the seat. While his tenure only lasted two years, he remained active with the Democratic committee for many years. Most notable during this time, Gerard was active in the community theater. His claim to fame came in his role as Harold Hill in The Music Man. Even up to the very end, he could recite lines and sing the songs from that production. In addition to politics and theater, Gerard and Frances both served their church community at Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe. When their children had grown, Gerard and Frances spent time traveling the country, visiting many of our treasured National Parks.  

Gerard leaves behind his 6 children and their spouses: Deirdre and Joseph Reich, Christopher and Toni, Peter and Lisa, Patricia and James O’Donnell, Karen and Ted Sorlien and Gerard Jr, and Mary Beth; 20 grandchildren: Shane, Colleen and Lindsey Reich, Ryan and Jason McLoughlin, Brendan (Lindsey), Colin (Elise), Devin (Alexandra) and Quinlan McLoughlin, Megan, Erin, Kevin and Kelly O’Donnell, Hannah Jane, Sarah and Kai Sorlien and Aidan, Kathleen, Molly and Gerard McLoughlin III; and 2 great grandchildren, Nathan and Lili McLoughlin. Gerard is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to calling hours at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah, NY on May 18, 2026 from 4-7pm.

The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Joseph’s Church, 95 Plum Brook Road, Somers, NY on May 19, 2026 at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place  • Memphis, TN 38105.