Kemp

Gerald William “Jerry” Kemp, 73, of Butler, passed away peacefully on Dec. 4, 2022, at his home surrounded by his loving wife and family.

Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, on June 22, 1949, he was the son of the late Jean R. Welch Kemp and George Kemp.

Jerry had a lifelong passion for sports and excelled in ice hockey, playing for the Peterborough Minor Hockey Association, which parlayed into a scholarship at Clarkson College and as a player for the Golden Knights (1968-1972). While there, joining Zeta Nu Fraternity gave him many close brothers and great times. He graduated in 1972 and held the school record for career goals.

He went on to play for four years of professional hockey in the International Hockey League (IHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL), and later retired and moved to the Albany, N.Y., area and established Kemp’s Sporting Goods Inc. in 1976. He loved his business, and through years of dedicated coaching and development of youth hockey programs in the capital region, he led teams to the national championships.

He will be remembered as a loving husband and father, who was generous, kind and quick-witted, with an infectious smile that brightened up a room.

Jerry leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Tamara Sechler Kemp of Butler; his children, Katie (Jesse) St. John of Wynantskill, N.Y., Greg Kemp of Loudonville, N.Y., and Alex Kemp at home; his siblings, Ian (Linda) Kemp, Wanda (Gerard) Byrne, Paula Bell, Linda Skea, Betty (Larry) Wade, Mike (Lynn) Kemp and Rick (Kim) Kemp; and many nieces and nephews.

A special thanks to the AHN Hospice team and personal caregivers for all of their excellent, loving care.

KEMP — A private visitation for Gerald William “Jerry” Kemp, who died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, will be held from 4 p.m. until the time of the private celebration of life service at 5 p.m. Thursday at BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER OF CONNOQUENESSING TOWNSHIP, 856 Evans City Road, Renfrew, with Pastor Reid Moon officiating. The service will be livestreamed at www.boylanfunerals.com/kemp.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave., 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001, stating for research at www.alzfdn.org, or by calling 866-232-8484.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.