GERALD THOMAS SPARKS
Gerald Thomas "Jerry" Sparks, 62, formerly of Honolulu, died October 22, 2010 in Inverness, FL. Born June 7, 1948 in Baltimore, MD, to Gerald P. and Virginia Sparks (nee Henderson), Jerry was the third of four children and grew up on Homberg Ave in Essex, MD. A graduate of Towson State College, he later earned his Masters in Administrative Science from the Johns Hopkins University in 1980.
After very successfully working in sales in MD for 20 years, he moved to Hawaii in 1986 and pursued his true calling: teaching. Jerry taught at Heald College for 17 years and was recognized with Outstanding Instructor awards in 1991 and 2006. He was active in the community, volunteering for Special Olympics and hosting his own radio show, but he most loved working with his students.
He is survived by his wife, Zenaida Sparks, and two children, Bernadette Burger of Baltimore, MD, and Gerald C. "Jake" Sparks of Inverness, FL. Survivors also include two sisters, Sheryl Brock of FL and Carolyn Heise of MD and her husband Michael, and brother William Preston Sparks and his wife, Therese, of CA.
A memorial service in Honolulu will be announced at a later date. If friends desire, the family requests donations go to the Cancer Care Organization (cancercarecopay.org).
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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