Ravino, Gerald, 83, of Redington Shores, FL completed his walk of faith on Earth February 5, 2014.
Gerald, known to most as Jerry, served his country proudly for many years. January 10, 1951 to January 31, 1952 Ravino served in the United States Naval Reserve. From August 15, 1952 to August 23, 1953 Ravino served in the Flame Platoon, First Tank Battalion, First Marine Division as a Flame Tank Commander. Ravino participated in the Korean war conflict as a tank crew member and was awarded a Purple Heart. Completing an honorable discharge from the war, Ravino served with the Marine Detachment, US Navel Retraining Command Navel Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Ravino served as a Board Member for the Marine Corps Tankers Association Foundation and a member of the Marine Corps League (Spring Hill, Florida) Detachment #708.
Ravino had many successful careers following his conclusion of service in the Military. He retired from Charles Pfizer Corp as Foreman in Chemical Operations in Connecticut after 32 years of service. The following 14 years Ravino committed himself to Operation PAR as a Substance Abuse Counselor. In that position, Jerry, touched many lives with his compassion and expertise in Substance Abuse.
Writing from first hand experience and extensive research, Ravino wrote and published his first book “Hearts of Iron (Flame Dragons”) and his second book “Elite USMC First Reconnaissance Company of the Korean War 1950-1953”.
In 2007, Jerry was honored as a member in the Lakota Sioux Tribe, Pine Island Ridge, South Dakota. Jerry was presented an Eagle Feather and quilted with a Starburst Quilt. Living his life with a kind spirit, Jerry was dedicated to serving others, professionally and personally. His family will miss his positive attitude and willingness to give of his time and advise.
Jerry leaves behind his beloved wife of 30 years, Nona. Jerry was blessed with three children, Dorathea Carters, Jay Ravino and Thomas Ravino; and four Step Children, Darlene Fernandez, Sharon Reyes, Donna Hudon and Donald Reynolds. In addition he leaves fourteen Grandchildren and seventeen Great-Grandchildren.
A gathering of friends and family will be at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at St. John Vianney Parish, 445 82nd Avenue, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706. A Mass will follow at 11:00 AM with Father John Blum. Interment will be held at 2:00 PM with honors presented by Marine Corps League Detachment #708, Spring Hill at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Busnell.
Please sign the guestbook below.
Jerry and I worked together as counselors at The Harbor in New Port Richey in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s. Jerry served well in his position and had a good relationship with his clients. My condolences to the family.
I always felt blessed to have met Jerry and shared life with him these past few years. He was a loving and devoted husband, a military historian, a well known author, a brave US Marine, and a true friend. He will be dearly missed.
Semper fidelis
All the members of the Sunshine State Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association wish to convey their condolences to the family of Gerald Patrick Ravino. “NOT ONE OF THEM IS FORGOTTEN BEFORE GOD. WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM”.
Jerry, You were a true friend and a true brother Marine all these years and I will miss you.
Semper Fi Brother
Dear Nona and Owen:
Sometimes, even with as much as I work with my fingers over a keyboard, words do not come easily, clearly not picking up thoughts running through my mind.
Trying to express my feelings about the loss of Jerry, for some reason, is one of those times.
Though we only met twice in our long association during and after collaborating on Flame Dragons of the Korean War, in my mind there was a pretty strong friendship which we both enjoyed. Though it may have been generated almost entirely through the technology of a computer and e-mails, I strongly feel there was a lot of personal interaction that made us good friends.
And in a way, I owe him a lot!
Like Jerry, I had pondered writing a book of some kind when I was younger, but there always something else on my plate. I never had mentioned much to my family about my time in the Marine Corps, and certainly some of the things I saw in Korea. Eventually, I wrote that book, but it was in a binder for my children and grandchildren because I wanted them to know a little about a part of their heritage which weaved through my time in the Marine Corps and how it had some bearing on them.
Then, Jerry came along with his burning ambition to write about our Flame Platoon’s history. Though I backed off at first, I was initiated into his unrelenting determination to do things. He kept after me until I came aboard. To say the least, it was one of the most fulfuling decisions I ever made.
I owe him a lot for that.
I have to say one thing: I never worked with a more driven man than Jerry Ravino. He wanted to write, but really didn’t have the tools at hand right then. Yet, his perseverance would not allow him to let it go. At first, I never thought he would be able to do it, but he was so determined to work at writing, he made it pay off.
I think I may have helped him a little. But what he did on his own after Flame Dragons was published, by writing Elite, was just a tremendous credit, not only to his persistence, but more to his confidence that he would do it. He just could not be convinced otherwise.
Then, there was that friendship we had,long distance or not. It evolved quickly, and though we had a couple of bumps in the road, it became stronger and stronger over more than a decade we knew each other.
After Flame Dragons, he’d call occasionally, and always there was that exuberance about writing Elite and then diving into research and starting to write the third book, Driving Force. Of course we discussed his health and in that regard, and I knew he was following the Ps&Qs laid down by his doctors. Still, I marveled at what he was undertaking with Elite and Driving Force.
But to me, that was just Jerry Ravino: Once he locked his mind and hands onto something, he was not going to let go.
I, like many he touched in so many ways over the years, feel the loss of a very good friend. I will miss him.
Jack Carty
Dad, you will always be My Hero and I will love you forever. See you in Heaven (but not too soon!) Love, Dora #1 and only Daughter
I was blessed to know Jerry for a few years now. I was so shocked to hear of his passing and I will miss him terribly. He was an angel for many and represented the best about the military, family and his faith! I know he is in Heaven, probably writing more books! Thank you Jerry for your wisdom, your love of learning and your desire to make sure that the truth be known and shared with everyone! God Bless you and your family!
I will miss you Dad – You are my Hero – Forever! Love, your Only Daughter, born in Camp LeJeune – Dora
We miss you and love u very much Jerry.I am so happy to have had you in my life. You and Nona helped raise my son Michael McAlister for years .and helped me when I was a teen myself. You taught me a lot of thing growing up and I want to thank you for everything. Me and Michael will miss you forever more.
i will miss jerry in this life beco he was a great man . i was one of his friend in this world we live . my God with him in heaven and in the next life we live . i love you and will miss you too jerry love you and my condolences to the family that he have out there in the worl my god be with all of you kids and the grandkids too god love you all .
I was sorry to just learn of Jerry’s passing, he was a true patriot and citizen. Semper Fi Marine.
It is July 26th and I just learned of Jerry’s passing. I am saddened to hear that he is no longer with us but me may be in a better place and with God. The Jerry that I was blessed to be acquainted with was a proud Marine and an even prouder Flame tanker. The USMC Vietnam Tankers Association made him an Honorary Member mostly because he was such a great supporter of all Marine tankers. God bless Jerry and keep him in the palm of His hand for now and ever more.
I have been looking for Jerry for quite a while. I was one of his VA nurses in Las Vegas and I was moving to Florida and we promised to stay in touch. He was one of a kind-I never forgot him. Nona, if you are reading this, please email me. You are as wonderful as he was. God Bless.
I knew Jerry as a man of integrity and friendship while we worked together at TASC, and for many years afterwards. I just learned of his passing when I was searching for him today. I speak for many others who knew and worked with Jerry when I say he is remembered well and with great sorrow at his passing. Our prayers are with all the family.