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Jerry Deprey Memorial Ride Sunday 10/18 - Save the Date
Please mark your calendars for the Memorial Ride for Jerry Deprey on October 18, 2015. We will meet in Riverton, CT at 8:45 AM, start at 9:00 AM sharp. The ride will be 35-40 miles, as flat as we can make it, Club Pace, ongoing chatter and jokes, except for the occasional brief intensity pace, and keep the ride flowing to get back in time for some good food and beer and more conversation,… just like Jerry enjoyed it.
For those of you who have not met Jerry, he was a long time cyclist in the area, a former competitive racer and one of the founding members of the coffee ride. Not long after he moved to Iowa, Jerry enjoyed his last ride of 100 miles on October 13, 2013 when at mile 94 unfortunately he left us for good. Those who were fortunate to know Jerry will remember him forever.
I will be hosting the ride at 409 East River Road in Riverton and afterward invite you to food from the grill and beer, blondes, Jerry’s favorites. Bring an appetizer or side dish or desert, or your favorite beverage. Please RSVP by Thursday 10/15 on the forum or via e-mail at andynovotny1@gmail.com. Check back to the forum about directions, parking, bike route, and weather updates.
So long, Andy
Thanks for organizing and hosting, Andy. I'm glad someone took charge and created a memorable event in Jerry's honor. I may not be able to make the ride, but will be there for the after party.
It would be nice if anyone who knew Jerry could post a few thoughts and comments here, not only for a bit of nostalgia, but also for the benefit of those who didn't know the man. I'll start...
I'll always remember Jerry when I first met him at a Monday night recovery ride. He kept me laughing that night and every week by always coming up with a new (and usually raunchy) joke he'd share.
The thing I liked best about riding with Jerry is he rarely talked about cycling. Politics, food, books, movies...anything but bike racing.
His regular appearance at rides ebbed and flowed with his tennis game. When his game was on, we never saw him.
He always bitched and moaned about any hill, yet he could in fact climb pretty well, especially during his "skinny" periods.
Jerry had the smoothest pedal stroke you will ever see. Not surprising since he was racing back before spandex. All wool, baby.
He was a hippie to the core. Raise your hand if you heard the story about loading up every interior inch of his friend's car with pot, getting stopped at the Canadian border, and talking his way out of going to jail. On the political spectrum, he made Ted Kennedy look like Ronald Reagan he was so far left.
He had a strong disdain for authority and idiot drivers. One time riding through Winsted coming up the hill out of town headed east, a state trooper was parked half on the sidewalk, half in the road (and in our path) at the light where Rt. 8 North exits. Jerry screamed "Get the f*#! out of the road!", went right through the light and turned and gave the cop a death stare as he rode past.
On a personal level, I should have been paying Jerry for his regular psychotherapy. Let's just say he was my shrink for many occasions, and in his own way guided me personally through some very rough times. He would never give advice, but was good at finding a way to make you come to your own smart and reasoned conclusions.
The last few times I heard from Jerry were emails every week or 2 after I broke my leg in July of 2013, to check in and see how I was doing. In fact he emailed me less than a week before he died, and I will always regret that I was too "busy" to reply and update him within a day of 2 or his last email.
Every time I walk into the coffee shop in Norfolk I still say "Hey?! Is that Marty Scorcese?" (Sam might remember that one...)
I could go on and on and on. Rest in peace, JD.
I met Jerry just a short years ago when the coffee ride board of directors was formed. When I recall him now these are the things that come to mind:
He was a master of the one-liner. Great wit but never caustic or demeaning, just plain funny.
He rode his bike on Saturday. Sunday was motorcycle day. He understood that happiness is all about proper balance.
He had a collection of classic wool jerseys. Remember to wear one on his ride if you've got one.
He was engaging and in line with Wayne's comments, a great listener. He checked in with people at each ride and was adept at picking up the conversation where it had left off whether it was the day before or weeks ago. He was genuinely interested in how you were doing.
He was a generous person. After Beth's bike rack had been stolen off her VW he offered her the one he had from a previous car. We put it in my garage and it went on the to do list. After his death I found it and decided it was time to put it to use. It now shares equal time between Beth's and my car and I think of Jerry each and every time I load a bike on it.
Yes indeed, Jerry was a great guy to ride with - for all the reasons Wayne and Pat have already posted. Whenever we talked about getting new bikes - which was often - and we'd discuss how expensive bikes had become, his one-liner of wisdom was "It's cheaper than a divorce."
My biggest non-cycling remembrance of Jerry is that he, Andy Novotny, Gary Worthington and I hiked to the top of Mt. Lafayette in NH one Fall day several years ago (the White Mtns. were part of his stomping grounds as a younger man). I barely made it back down the mountain that day (descending, I learned, is actually harder than going up) and could literally not walk for 3 or 4 days afterwards, much to my wife's entertainment.
Thank you for sharing the experiences you had with Jerry.
I will never forget how I first met him in the late nineties during a business association meeting in New Haven of all places. After introducing myself to the group and mentioning my office in Canton, Jerry came up to me introducing himself as a "neighbor" in Harwinton. A few days later we met for coffee at a Dunkin Donuts in Canton. During an hour of business squawk I kept looking through the window at his car with a bike rack on top. On the way out of Dunkin Donuts I asked "so Jerry, I take it you are a cyclist given the bike rack on your car". "Oh yes" he answered and I stated "what a coincidence, I am a cyclist too". Another few days later we met for a ride and then continued to meet during EasternBloc progressive rides on Saturdays. Coincidentally, Jerry and I were a good match to combine our professional experience and we started to consult with varies companies together over 10 or so years. Working at client sites in CT, NY, MA, NJ we brought our bikes and conducted our meetings during after hour bike rides or occasional lunch rides. If we both worked from home in CT we met for rides to discuss client situations, or get fat having pizza and beer on his front porch.
My daughter Nicole too enjoyed Jerry's company especially during the early trailer and tag-along bike rides. I can't describe my own personal experience better then she does. Here is a letters she wrote about Jerry: Nicole's letter
And here are pictures of the Mt. Lafayette hike, Tom's biggest non-cycling remembrance of Jerry: Mt. Lafayette
Hope to see you on Sunday. Please RSVP by Thursday 10/15 on this forum.
Thanks, Andy
Great letter Nicole!
Those pictures bring back lots of memories. Fortunately I can't feel the pain (again) through them.
I'll be at the ride. Please do something about the weather, eh?
Tom
Great Letter Nicole!
You are a great kid and I love how you can express how you feel so honestly.
I was on quite a few rides with Jerry - usually during the week meeting at the church in New Hartford w Tom Wing, Monica, Nancy & Andrea. He was a very smooth rider and a joy to draft off of. Like me he liked to warm up slowly - socialize - and then push at the end of the ride. We always ended up doing town lines down 44.
I will be there Sunday - Scott
I didn't know Jerry but Nicole's letter and the comments left above are testament to a person who left a positive impact in many lives that survives. My loss is to not have known him. I will be there Sunday...and will enjoy meeting Jerry through the memories of the people he touched. Joe
I will be there
I'll be there.
Here is the route for Sunday: Route
The address is 409 East River Road in Riverton. On the road from Pleasant Valley to Riverton, there is a small incline a couple hundred yards before the bridge in Riverton. The house is just before the incline on the left, between the road and the river. There is a small wooden sign with the number 409 on a tree. Checkout the attached pictures: Driveway, From Pleasant Valley, From Riverton
There is enough parking in the yard. As you enter the driveway take a right to park on the lawn.
Bundle up, it will be cold. Hope it will warm up mid day. Bring a lawn chair.
Looking forward to see you all, Andy
Coffee stop in Norfolk of course an important JD ritual! How can I forget about that.
Andy - thanks so much for organizing and hosting afterward. Nice tribute to Jerry.
Thanks Andy!
Thanks to all who have attended the ride on Sunday despite the cold temperatures, and for the food and exchange of memories about Jerry. The attendance of each of you made it a more memorable event. And of course we will talk about the snow and borderline hail for a while. It was not in the forecast and a few of us were wondering who sent it?
See you on the roads,
Andy