Gerald L. "Coach" Green

Gerald L. “Coach” Green

Of Unadilla

Gerald L. Green passed away on Wed. June 18, 2025.  Jerry was born on May 25, 1927 in Oxford, New Jersey.  He was the son of Euphemia (Lanterman) & Edward T. Green Sr.  He married Dorothy Campbell of Georgetown, New York on October 1, 1949 in Jay, New York.   They had three daughters; Judy Beth, Deborah Anne and Patricia Louise. 

He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy, daughter, Judy, parents, Edward and Euphemia Green, brother, Edward (Meg), sister, Beth (Jerry) Nye and brother, Philip (Rose). 

He is survived by his daughters, Patti Kafchinski and Chris Hendrickson of Unadilla and Debbie (Scott) Somers of Puyallup, WA.  Also grandchildren; Jeremy (Julie) McKown of Basking Ridge, NJ (children, Hudson Jude and Jonah Philip), Jennie McKown (Ernie Dotson) of Fallston, MD (children, Connor Eli, Mason Gerald and Logan Thomas), Michelle Lee of Endicott, NY, (son, Daxton Morgan), Ryan (Katie) Erbe of Highland Falls, NY (children, Evelyn Judy, Vivian Grace, Lilian Ella and William David), Heather Somers of University Place, WA (son, Samuel Owen), Christopher (Leah) Somers of Puyallup, WA, (Children, Gavin Dean and Trent Anthony), Patrick (Nathaly) Somers of Snohomish, WA, (children, Eli Martin and Eira Belle), Marcia (Jeff) Lundin of Burke, VA, (children, Jane Vivian, Henry Alfred and Edith Anne), Garrett (Lauren) Kafchinski of Croton on  Hudson, (Child, Cameron Philip) and Nathan Kafchinski of Unadilla, NY. 

Jerry was a school teacher for thirty-three years and coached many sports for much of that time.  He was a Physical Education teacher.  He even taught 6th grade in Canastota for one year.  Once the Otego and Unadilla schools merged, he introduced wrestling to the program.  Much of the time at Unadilla and then Unatego, he served as the district Athletic Director. 

His teaching career took him to Elizabethtown-Lewis, Elizabethtown, NY, Canastota, NY Unadilla, NY and Harpursville, NY.  He was also a school administrator for nine of those thirty-three years.  And also served as Executive Secretary (17 years) and Treasurer (28 years) of the Section IV (New York State Public High School Athletic Association).

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, was Past Master of the Freedom Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, Trustee and Member of the Unadilla Village Board, Member and past president of the Unatego Board of Education, Trustee and Treasurer of the Evergreen Hill Cemetery Association, Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Member of the New York State Athletic Administrators Association, Member of the Section IV Hall of Fame, Treasurer and Member of the Unatego Central School Booster Club, Elder in the Presbyterian  Church, Member and past president of the Advisory Committee of the Otsego Office for the Aging, Member and past president of the “Young at Heart” Seniors of Unadilla and worked diligently for several years on the committee to bring senior housing to  Unadilla.  He was an instructor of the AARP Driver Safety Program. 

He received the NYSHSAA “Outstanding Athletic Administrator Award” for Chapter 4 in 1987, The “Good Neighbor Award” from the Unadilla Chamber of Commerce in 2000, The “Otsego County Senior Citizen of the Year Award’ in 2005, The “Livable Community Ambassador Award” at the County and State level in 2010.  And also received the Booster of the Year Award from the Unatego Spartan Booster Club in 2013 and the NYS Athletic Administrators Association Wall of Honor in 2024. 

Jerry loved working in the yard and garden.  He spent many hours doing just that.  He also was proud of his Christmas and Easter displays for the front yard. 

Jerry has resided at the New York State Veterans Home, Oxford, NY since Dec. 2022.  While at the Veterans home, he was able to complete 5 different outdoor holiday displays.  The family wishes to thank the staff at the Veterans home for their loving care and support to our family. 

Funeral Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church 156 Main St. Unadilla on Friday at 1 p.m.   Rev. James Thyren & Rev. Lynn Shepard will co-officiate.   Burial will be in Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Unadilla with military honors.  The family will receive friends at the First Presbyterian Church on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to service.  Masonic Lodge Service will be held at 1 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:  Unadilla Emergency Squad 72 Clifton St. Unadilla, NY 13849 of the First Presbyterian Church 156 Main St. Unadilla, NY 13849. 

Online condolences may be made at:    www.wmaddenfh.com.   Arrangements by the Westcott-Madden Funeral Home 123 Main Street Unadilla.  A MADDEN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME. 

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