Gerard N. Inneo

Gerard N. Inneo

Retired Newark Police Captain

Beloved Father and Grandfather, 87

Mr. Gerard N. Inneo, 87, of Bloomfield, NJ, passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Mountainside Hospital, Glen Ridge.  Visitation will be at the Biondi Funeral Home of Nutley, 540 Franklin Avenue on Wednesday, January 29 from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.   There will be a Funeral Mass celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Church, Newark on Thursday, January 30 at 10:30 a.m.   The interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange with military honors.   

Mr. Inneo was born in Newark, NJ and resided in Bloomfield for the past 55 years.  Gerard known to all as Jerry, or Blue Boy, graduated from Barringer High School & attended for one year St Benedict’s for college preparatory in Newark, NJ.  Jerry excelled in Football and was an all star player making him eligible for college scholarships & eventually playing for the Baltimore Colts for one-pre season.

During the Korean War, Jerry was drafted in 1952 and soon became a Military Police Officer. Although he served on the front line, Jerry made time to play with the orphaned Korean children & give them treats. He would also make homemade pizza the Newark way for his battalion.

Jerry became a Newark Police Officer in December 1956.  He walked the beat of the 2nd Precinct stopping to know everyone.  In 1960 he was ranked to Detective serving 19 years of his career in the Homicide Unit along with his trusted partner, who he called a brother, Louis Dell Ermo. The two were quite a team solving some of the City’s most brutal homicides.  He was later promoted to Sergeant in1973 & to Lieutenant in 1976.  He served his City in many Units, most noted the Tactical Patrol Force and being the Department’s Hostage Negotiator. Jerry was promoted to Captain in 1993 & immediately headed the Narcotic Division combating illicit distribution.  He retired at the rank of Captain in 1998 after 42 years.

He has been honored on several occasions with the Patrolman of the Month Award, many citations from the New Jersey FOP, & Resolutions from the Mayor of Newark. To him his favorite reward was while off duty resuscitating a baby who was lifeless in his mother’s arms running down the street for help.

He was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police, the Superior Officers Association, and the Italian American Police Officers Association.  Jerry was also a Football Official on the High School & Collegiate Level for 36 years.

Jerry was active in his church, Saint Francis Xavier in Newark, & participated on many committees throughout the years & was a member of the Holy Name Society.  He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign War and always gave back to Veterans as well as to his community.

Most importantly above all, Jerry was dedicated to his family. From coaching sports teams & supporting his children through their educations & all endeavors. The death of his wife devastated him to his last day & found comfort in his children & grandchildren.

He instilled in his children respect for others, charity & dedication. He was kind and generous to a fault.  His presence was felt when he walked into a room always larger than life. Many have described him as a Legend.  One of a kind.  To his family he will always be their Hero.

Jerry is survived by his beloved children Maria Bellsiano and her husband Ronald, Joseph G. Inneo, Sr. and his wife Maria, and Geralyn Inneo and her loving lifelong companion James Salters; and his cherished grandchildren Joseph G. Inneo, Jr., Jeanna Bellsiano and Airman Nicholas P. Inneo.

He is predeceased by his wife Jean (nee Gangemi) Inneo (1996), his parents Giuseppe and Rosaria Pompea (nee Palmieri) Inneo, his brother Vincent Inneo, and his sister Gilda Palumbo.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate, or to Rare is Beautiful, P.O. Box 551, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407, rareisbeautiful.org.

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