Gerald Hendrik Verkade

(June 21, 1927 – November 3, 2018)

FLORIDA – Gerald Hendrik Verkade, 91, of Florida passed away peacefully on November 3, 2018 at home.

Gerald was born in New London, Connecticut on June 21, 1927, the son of Hendrik Verkade Sr. and Flora Brouwer Verkade.

Both were from Boskoop, Holland where the Verkade family had been in the nursery business for over 3 generations.  In 1916, they moved to England and immigrated to the United States the same year landing at Ellis Island. They eventually moved to New London and started a successful nursery business where Gerald followed his father's footsteps as a "boomkweker" and worked in different capacities throughout many decades.  He is survived by Lillian Grey.   Gerald was Honorably Discharged from the Air Force during World War II, graduated  from Chapman Tech and was a member of the Pequot Engine Company No.6, Inc.

In 1948 Gerald married Avis Elizabeth Dawley of Westerly, RI.   They were married for 61 years before she passed away in 2009. They lived in New London with their three children to manage the Verkade's Nursery New London Location and later retired and moved to Melbourne Beach, FL in 1988.  Gerald was preceded in death by his sweetheart Avis, son Ronald Verkade and grandson Paul Ero Jr.

In 1982 Gerald as a propagator and manager of the New London Div. of Verkade's Nursery Inc., Waterford, CT, was presented with the Connecticut Nurseryman's Association Award of Merit for developing and introducing three plants and overcoming propagation problems. Gerald contributed his grafted hybrid "Crimson Queen" to the Connecticut Nurseryman's Garden at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 1986.   A specimen of this now famous dwarf form of the thread leaf Japanese maple is still thriving as it cascades over a wall at United States National Arboretum, Washington, DC.  He had a passion for the state flower Mountain Laurel and named one of his cross pollinated hybrids "Nathan Hale" honoring an American military hero from his home state and donated a specimen to the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, New London, CT, 1986.  His hybrid Pieris bush "Crystal", Patent 4794, was developed and propagated using the innovative process of tissue culture, 1970.

Gerald had a long wonderful life and took joy in simple pleasures with family, pets and friends.  He will be sincerely missed by his daughters Donna (Thomas) Zieziulewicz and Kathy (Paul) Ero.  His Grandchildren: Thomas J. Zieziulewicz Jr, Philip Ero, Angela Ortiz, Adam Zieziulewicz and his 12 great grandchildren will also miss him dearly.

A memorial service will be held at Cedar Grove Cemetery, 638 Broad Street, New London, CT.  In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Hospice via VISTA.com.