Jerry Cantril

JERRY MERLE CANTRIL

May 26, 1939 - August 30, 2024

Jerry died at Boulder Community Hospital in Boulder, CO on Friday, August 30, 2024. He was born on May 26, 1939 to Annie M. (Self) and W. Merle Cantril in Hayden, CO. He spent his first few years there until the family moved to a ranch (K-T) near Meeker, CO. The stay in Meeker was short, but long enough to create good memories, enjoy a gentle horse named Billy and watch the ducks swim in the nearby river. He said many times that he remembered hearing President Roosevelt on the radio announcing the declaration of war against Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

From Meeker, the family moved to Denver where his father worked as a fireman for the railroad. His mother worked as a nurse at the Arms plant after graduating from the Denver General Hospital School of Nursing. Jerry began his elementary education in the Denver Public School system. He adored his older brother Dick, who joined the Navy and was sent to the Pacific eventually serving on Okinawa. Upon his return, Dick became a school teacher and taught Jerry and his sisters at the high school in Kremmling.

In 1947 the family moved to a ranch on the back Troublesome near Kremmling, CO. Growing up on a ranch, turned Jerry into a hard worker. He learned to milk cows, clean corrals, stack hay and other ranch related duties. He loved music and played the violin and sang in many productions led by Mr. Warren G. McGaughey throughout his school career. In high school he joined the football and wrestling teams. His senior year, he went to the CO State Wrestling Tournament where he placed 2nd in his weight division. However, he always claimed he was cheated out of 1st place due to poor officiating. Jerry was one of fourteen students to graduate from West Grand High School in 1957.

Jerry was awarded a National Merit Scholarship and chose to attend Dartmouth College in NH. He graduated from Dartmouth with a BS in Physics and continued his education at Oklahoma State University where he earned a Masters and a Ph.D. in Physics in 1972.

His professional career began in Huntsville, AL working for Wylie Laboratories. A friend persuaded him to move to Maryland where he continued his career with a contractor working on satellite operations for NOAA and on occasion NASA. During the 1970's he was an integral part in the success of Landsat. He transitioned to the GOES satellite missions and was involved with development, launch, and operation of the third and fourth-generation GOES satellites.

He had a passion for everything Irish and loved to cook Irish food. Often he would bring lunch for "his crew". These Irish feasts included Irish Stew, Shepherd's Pie, Soda Bread and Irish Trifle. He was always proud of the fact that all the food was eaten with compliments to the chef. He tried his hand at operating an Irish restaurant called Harp and Fiddle in MD. The restaurant had a very successful 8-week run, until the owner of the space decided to cancel the lease and run the business on his own.

Two strokes cut his career and life in MD short. The strokes affected his navigation skills and some of his sight. But his love for everything Irish never waivered.

Jerry moved to Boulder, CO in 2012 to rehabilitate and live with his sister Myrle Myers. He spent his first year rehabbing and integrating into Myrle's family. He never got used to being "retired" and always wanted to "learn again" all the things he had forgotten. From 2013 to 2024 he enjoyed spending time with family and traveling the world with his two sisters, Patty and Myrle. They enjoyed many river cruises in Europe and one in Russia. He celebrated his 80th birthday aboard a river cruise on the Danube. The highlights of his European travels were dancing the Polonaise in Russia and an evening at the Moulin Rouge in Paris. Jerry also enjoyed several fishing trips to Alaska with the family. He fondly told the tale of one of his nieces reeling in a record holding halibut that was bigger than she was. He loved family gatherings and continued to cook Irish feasts for friends and family. He joined St. Paul's Methodist Church and played in the bell choir for a few years.

 Jerry was preceded in death by his mother Annie, father Merle, and half-siblings Richard Cantril and Evelyn Bryant. Jerry's remains will be cremated and buried next to his beloved brother in Kremmling, CO. A celebration of his life (an Irish Wake) will be held at a future date.

In closing...

"Up the long ladder and down the short rope 

To hell to King Billy and God bless the Pope

If that doesn't do we'll tear 'em in two

And send them to hell with his red, white and blue!"

sláinte!