GERALD A. MACHIA OF JEFFERSONVILLE PASSES AWAY

[Henry]

GERALD A. MACHIA JEFFERSONVILLE — Gerald Adlore Machia, age 91, a lifelong resident of Vermont, passed away Friday, Oct. 21, 2005, in Genesis Eldercare in Morrisville. He was born in Sheldon, March 26, 1914, the son of the late Adlore Henry and Della Abby (Martin) Machia. He married the love of his life, Madelyn Hutchins on June 6, 1933, in St. Thomas Church in Underhill Center. Gerald worked for the town of Underhill and then the town of Cambridge. During his employment with the towns he was one of the first to plow snow with a bulldozer and helped build many roads. During World War II Gerald worked as a welder for the Shelburne Shipyard and as a mechanic for North East Airlines. Gerald was a true entrepreneur who opened his first business with his wife, Madelyn, in Jeffersonville as Jerry's Garage. In 1947, they formed Machia Construction Inc. which extended local work for over 100 employees throughout the company's many years of operation. Some of their major accomplishments included building the road for WCAX-TV on Mount Mansfield, installing the Madonna Ski Lift, graveling the IBM road and working on the set of the production of Walt Disney's “Those Calloways“ filmed in Jeffersonville in the early '60s. Gerald had the vision for and developed Jefferson Heights housing development in Jeffersonville. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was one of the original directors of the then Smugglers Notch Skiways, served as a selectman of Cambridge Town as well as a member of the Associated General Contractors, and actively supported the Boy Scouts. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling and working on his farm land. Above all else, Gerald was a dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather who will be greatly missed by all those who had the true pleasure to know and love him. In the last four years this included the many nurses and staff members at the Genesis Nursing Home in the Morrisville Center. He touched their lives deeply and they cared for him as his extended family. He is survived by his loving wife and business partner of 72 years, Madelyn (Hutchins) Machia of Jeffersonville; one son, Richard and wife Margaret “Peg“ Machia of Jeffersonville; three daughters, Geraldene “Gerry“ Rooney and husband Norman of Jeffersonville, Jane George Shaw and husband C. Terry of Jeffersonville, and Lynda M. Cootware of South Burlington; three sisters, Phyllis Bolio of Underhill, Maxine Ovitt and husband Wesley of Sheldon Springs and Agnes Churchill and husband Richard of Sheldon; 12 grandchildren; 13 greatgrandchildren; one great-greatgrandchild; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by three brothers, Harland, Kenneth, and Adlore “Lorry“, Jr.; and one granddaughter, Deborah (Machia) Melvin in 1999. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the A.W. Rich Funeral Home Fairfax Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, in St. Mary Church, Cambridge, with the Rev. Dan Jordan officiating. Inurnment will follow at a later date. Contributions may be made in Gerald's memory to Jeffersonville Boy Scouts Troop 39, 125 Sunny Acres, Jeffersonville, Vt. 05464, or to The Alzheimer's Association VT & NH Chapter, 10 Ferry St. Suite 427B, Concord, N.H. 033015004, or to The Lamoille Area Cancer Network, P.O. Box 38, Lake Elmore, Vt. 05657, or Lamoille Home Health & Hospice, 54 Farr Avenue Morrisville, Vt. 05661. Friends who wish may forward online condolences by visiting http://www.awrichfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by John D. Workman of the A.W. Rich Funeral Home Fairfax Chapel, 1176 Main St., Fairfax.