Jaroslav Cerny (known to his friends as Jerry) passed away after a short battle with an aggressive illness on July 3rd, 2021 in his home in Delray Beach, Florida.

He was the only child of two loving parents, Jaroslav and Jarmila Cerny. Although he was born at the end of World War II and life wasn’t easy, he was a happy child.

Growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, Jerry loved America and everything it stood for ever since he was a small boy. He was young when his father, whom he admired deeply, was sentenced to 18 yrs. of hard labor in uranium mines – on fabricated charges of “conspiracy and treason”. It changed young Jerry forever.

As a “son of a political prisoner,” he was not allowed to study or even hold a decent job. He was forced to work at the factory, which he hated. Getting a job as a locomotive operator gave him a sense of freedom.

Jerry defected to the United States in 1969 as a political refugee, knowing he may never see his parents again. If there was one strong value instilled in him, it was the desire for freedom - of life, personal choices and happiness. That’s what he found in the country he chose for his second home and he was forever grateful.

Overwhelmed by the welcoming nature of Americans helping them accommodate and settle, Jerry was quickly presented with opportunities he never had in his old country. While learning a new language, he completed his education and became a Computer Programmer, something he would have never dreamt possible. Jerry became a proud American Citizen in 1975.

In Waterbury, Connecticut Jerry formed lifelong friendships with people who became his second family. With his wife Marta, they had two adorable children, Monica and Janine. The girls immediately became the center of Jerry’s universe. His entire life and attention was focused on his family and his daughters. He loved playing with them, talking about their dreams, swimming, canoeing, teaching them about nature, sports, and being there for them. He also loved parties and getting together with newly found friends, as long as it also involved kids.

Professionally, he became a highly specialized Database Administrator at the Fleet Bank (later Bank of Boston, turned into Bank of America). Upon the banks merging, he lost the job and the family made a move to Boca Raton, Florida. Jerry’s mom was able to visit them there a few times. Unfortunately, his dad Jaroslav Cerny Sr. died young while making plans to join his son’s family and relocate to America. His health was significantly compromised due to the imprisonment. Jerry never saw his father again.

In Florida, a new professional journey began. Jerry began working with a famous and beloved Czech singer and actor, Waldemar Matuska, an outspoken rebel to the communist regime. Jerry produced a concert for him when they first defected to help them settle in the United States and they quickly formed a deep friendship. As a result, Jerry proudly became Waldemar Matuska’s manager.

Jerry met another Czech immigrant, Petr Kratochvil, and became the Director of Development for his Black and Light Theater Petr founded in Florida. Jerry formed a Board of Directors which included several well-known Czech immigrants. Their focus was to help raise funds for the ensemble. Upon the fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia, the Black and Light Theater relocated to their home country. As his marriage fell apart, Jerry followed and moved back to Prague, after 20 years of emigration. He found himself missing his girls deeply but found comfort and enjoyment in spending time with them over summers when they came to visit.

Jerry found faith in love again when he met Vera in Prague. They soon worked together and were inseparable. He proposed to Vera on their first visit to Delray Beach in 1992 and was married the same year in her hometown’s church in Moravia. For the next 10 years, they worked together in the Entertainment Industry in the Czech Republic, representing artists, producing events, and managing a horse riding facility. After 9/11, Jerry felt a strong desire to be back in his adopted country. He missed America.

In 2002, Jerry and Vera relocated to Connecticut. The deeply rooted friendships Jerry formed in the 70s never weakened. He was admired for his honesty, dignity, kindness, loyalty, sense of humor, and compassion for others by everyone he met. He made it his goal to help Vera adapt to a new country, grow and find her purpose. Their success and happiness were a shared dreams. He was always present to support and share pride in his wife’s accomplishments. He would rather watch “chick flicks” with Vera than doing “the guy thing”.

In 2012 they relocated to Delray Beach, Florida upon his retirement from the Department of Children and Families in Connecticut just in time to welcome their first grandchild. Jerry was happy to live close to both of his daughters again and later enjoyed 3 grandsons, Nathaniel, Luca, and Oliver. Jerry was one of the most loving, compassionate, and unselfish human beings to exist. He never answered the question “what would you like” differently than with another question ”what would YOU like”? The needs of others were always his priority.

His last few years in Florida were filled with love, joy, good food, and his favorite drinks, the Pina Colada or Mai Tai. He loved traveling, the omnipresent sun, the ocean, and all of the colors and flowers in Florida. He also enjoyed seafood, bike rides, photography, walks in nature, swimming, and spending time with family and the grandkids. He wanted to show Vera all of the places he loved.

A short time before he was diagnosed with the terminal illness that eventually took him away from us, he said he didn’t remember the last time he felt so good.

Jaroslav (Jerry) Cerny passed away peacefully in his home, supported by his loving wife of 29 years and his beloved daughters until his last moments. He is survived by his wife, Vera Czerny, daughter Monica Galarza, her wife Glenda Galarza, daughter Janine Opper, her husband Jared Opper, and three grandchildren, Nathaniel Opper, Luca Galarza, and Oliver Opper.
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The funeral mass will take place at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd. in Delray Beach on Tuesday, July 13th, 2021 at 11:00 AM.

It will be followed by the Celebration of Jerry’s life held at the Clubhouse in the Rainberry Bay community, where Jerry enjoyed his last years.

As this is a guarded community, please kindly RSVP before SUNDAY, July 11th to: vcerny13@yahoo.com if you would like to attend the Celebration of Life afterward - so we can include your name on the guestlist for the entrance. Due to Covid 19 strict restrictions, you’ll not be able to enter if your name isn’t included on the guest list.

If you can’t attend the funeral mass and wish to view it virtually, here's the Livestream link for Jerry’s Funeral Mass: https://stvincentferrer.com/f…
You can click on the link about 10 minutes prior to the start of the mass, (please make sure to mute yourself) – it will be available to view life or the recording later, for about 3 more weeks after the funeral.

Please be advised that the church will not accept flower arrangements.