Gerald Leonard Keller

Born in Trenton, NJ, Jerry was the son of the late Sidney and Edith Keller, and brother to the late Ronald S. Keller. He is survived by his two daughters, Sheri Crowther and Molly Ford, and five grandchildren, Michael, Ryan, Ethan, Olivia and Jack.

As a high school athlete at North Hunterdon in Annandale, NJ, Jerry was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a three-year starter as football quarterback, a three-year starter in basketball, and a standout hitter in baseball. He was named All-County Athlete three times while at North. He went on to play football, tennis and golf at East Stroudsburg State College in the Poconos.

Upon graduating in 1962, Jerry began a highly successful coaching career at Bernard’s High School between ‘62 and ‘71. In that time as head coach for football, wrestling and golf he had 11 of 12 winning seasons, including 8 State championships. At Hunterdon Central in Flemington, he led the Red Devil football team to 11 winning seasons, 2 of which were undefeated, and three Conference Championships. He saw many of his players go on to receive college scholarships to play ball. After his 20-year storied coaching career, he was named to the North Hunterdon, Bernard’s High School and the New Jersey Athletic Halls of Fame. He retired from teaching in 1992.

Jerry was an avid food and wine enthusiast and kept his bottles of Lafites under lock and key during his daughters’ teenage years. He would spend hours planning a grand dinner party menu and wow his guests with dishes like duck a l’orange, crown roast of lamb, coquille Saint-Jacques followed by a picture worthy Grand Marnier Soufflé.

In his later years, Jerry resided outside of Denver, Colorado, surrounded by the gorgeous Rocky Mountains, where he enjoyed fly fishing in nearby Wyoming with his fellow anglers, traveling with his beloved partner Joy, and cheering on the Denver Broncos.

Though he excelled at football, golf, wrestling and long-distance running, fly fishing was his religion. He traveled to Alaska, Canada, and mastered the art of tying flies in pursuit of the perfect hatch and the elusive trout and salmon he revered. His passion for the sport and love of the outdoors is how we will remember him, standing in his favorite beat on the Lackawaxen River.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fraxa Research Foundation (www.fraxa.org) or to The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (donations.nfwf.org) in his memory.