Gerald "Jerry" Collins

Gerald Thomas Collins, a.k.a. Jerry, a.k.a. “Bird,” 80 years old, passed away peacefully with family and friends by his side on August 6, 2025.  Jerry was born in Binghamton, New York, to William and Doris Collins on May 22, 1945.  Jerry is survived by his ever-loving wife Constance (“Connie” Cardone) Collins of 60+ years, whom he met initially as a young teenager at a party in Jimmy Giamarino’s garage.  He is also survived by his son Mark Collins (Amy Bean Collins), his daughter Dr. Christine Dasilva, and his six grandchildren Conor Collins, Payton Collins, Sydney Collins, Marcel Dasilva, Sofia Dasilva, and Luciano Dasilva.  Jerry was the third child of five siblings and leaves his sisters Rosemary Ruetlinger, Rita Hyde, and Patricia Martin and his brother William (“Billy”) Collins.  He also leaves many nieces and nephews.

Jerry and his life were large not just from his physical stature and experiences, but also from his generosity, loyalty, and compassion for everything and everyone around him, including family, friends, neighbors, and professional colleagues.

Jerry grew up on the southside of Binghamton with his best friends Bob Scott, Tony Basti and many others. He was an accomplished high school athlete where he excelled in three sports and used to brag that his record in the discus throw was still standing when North High School closed. He also received his nickname “Bird” while he was on the football field. Jerry excelled at eating cheeseburgers at The Wigwam and trying to gain the attention of his soon-to-be wife Connie, who was too busy socializing with Diane, Patty and Mary Ellen (a.k.a. “The Cool Ghouls”). After high school, he made his way to the University of Oklahoma to play football and start a family with Connie.

Jerry started his professional career selling college rings in different cities. He and his family found their way back to Binghamton in 1970, where he dipped his toe into the janitorial business. He reinvented himself in the bar and restaurant business in different cities with different types of restaurants. For the last 25 years, he was an international label sales representative and traveled frequently for business to Hong Kong, China, and Germany. He made friendships from professional relationships that have lasted many years. Much to the chagrin of Connie’s coworkers, Jerry also believed he was a pseudo-CPA, ambulance driver and technician, and doctor.  To say he was a man of many talents is an understatement.

Family was everything to Jerry. Happy memories of family vacations to Cape May, New Jersey; ski trips out West; days on the beach in Florida; filming a remake of “True Lies” with everyone in Massachusetts; and international trips for work and with Connie will be topics at family gatherings forever. Even though his children, grandchildren, and some nieces and nephews did not live nearby, he participated in every aspect of their lives. He was deeply intertwined with each of his grandchildren’s daily lives and had a unique bond with each of them. He had a very special relationship with his brother Billy, and his sister Rita was a calming influence in the last year of his life.

Jerry had the same dedication to his friends. Whether it was the morning call with Norm Singer, one of his closest friends for over 56 years; skiing with Mike McMahon or John Govern; his yearly golf trips to Las Vegas with the Grippens to place NCAA bets and play golf; duck hunting with his friends and nephew Joey in the north country; or playing golf with his brother Billy, he gave the same 100 % to all of his friendships. He was always there for his friends regardless if it was an emergency life crisis or something as small as a recipe or how to plant garlic. Jerry had the ability to form special bonds with his friends’ children and grandchildren. Skiing and setting up tailgates with the DeVincentis boys, attending sporting events, or even sitting around with the Scott children at the Super Bowl party were times he always talked about. His friends Robert and Ricky DeVincentis described him as ubiquitous, as the friendship was generational and all encompassing.

With a nickname of “Bird,” it was very appropriate that he lived on top of Prospect Mountain. His most peaceful times were watching and identifying birds from his sunroom. His love for his neighborhood showed when he was cooking for celebrations at the Sugar Shack with the Kumpons, employing neighborhood kids to help tend to his garden at $50 an hour, mentoring young neighbors and their children’s careers, employing all of the Wahl children to babysit at anytime, any place, all while giving them sage life advice, or simply talking with Tracy and Mark Majewski about their children’s lives.  He truly loved and embraced living on the hill.

Jerry was successful in everything he did in his life. There was a common theme he borrowed from Frank Sinatra, “I did it my way,” in conducting his life, including his amazing relationship with his wife. He continued doing it his way right up to the end, where he successfully (in his mind) maneuvered his way through the healthcare system, right back to his sunroom seat next to his wife and the birds on the hill, despite medical and family recommendations.

His wife and children would like to thank Jerry’s brother Billy and sister Rita, his niece Susan, sister-in-law Sandy, and all the friends for all the care love and support they gave in the past year. In addition, his wife and children would like to give special heart-filled thanks to superior ambulance, Ken Rounds, Mark Kavassy, the wonderful professionals at Lourdes Hospital, and his devoted friend and caregiver Megan Carter.

The family will receive friends at St. Patrick’s Church from 11-1 on September 15, 2025, followed by a mass at 1P.M.
 

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