JERRY MANCUSO
1944-2021
Jerry Mancuso was born in Houston on the 15th of December 1944, and died in Houston on the 14th of August 2021. He was the son of Frank Cologero Mancuso and Annie Comardo Mancuso. Jerry grew up in the Post Oak area of Houston, which at the time was an Italian farm. He attended St. Michael’s School, St. Thomas High School, and St. Thomas University.
In 1964, he married Gail Hall and joined the Navy in 1966. Jerry served in the Vietnam War on the USS Constellation as a flight deck supervisor until 1972. He and Gail had two wonderful sons, Anthony and Joseph.
After serving in the Navy, Jerry started Designer’s Market, a furniture manufacturing business. Working with a variety of residential and commercial designers, Jerry created and built thousands of pieces of furniture over the years. Some of his favorite projects were designing furniture for large hotel and restaurant projects.
Jerry loved the outdoors. Fishing, hunting and gardening were his passions. Growing fruits and vegetables became one of his favorite pastimes. He also loved to coach the sports teams of his sons, when growing up and mentor the young men on those teams.
Later in life, Jerry followed his passion for great food and his beloved Italian Heritage and opened Mancuso’s
Italian Table, a very popular neighborhood locale. He warmly and jovially greeted each guest and often would share a story or two from his childhood. He was famous for his lasagna and Sunday night fried chicken.
He spent some of his spare time volunteering and raising money for the Italian Community. Annually, he participated in the Italian Festival selling his Lasagna, Eggplant Parmesan and other Italian family favorites. As well, he assisted many elderly Italians by taking them to doctor visits and helping them run errands.
Above all things, Jerry loved and adored his family. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than the many family gatherings and trips. He loved his annual fall hunting trips with his children and grandchildren. A lot of time was spend around the campfire sharing stories of his Italian upbringing.
Jerry is survived by his sons, Anthony Frank Mancuso, and wife Jacki, and Joseph Wayne Mancuso and wife Montie; his grandchildren, Danielle Mancuso, Lillian Mancuso and Cullen Mancuso; his brother Mark
Mancuso and wife Cindy; mother of his children, Gail Mancuso; and long-time companion, Cynthia Stone.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center for their excellent care of Jerry over the years.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until half-past seven o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 24th of August 2021, in the Grand Foyer & Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where recitation of the holy rosary will commence at seven o’clock in the evening.
A funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 25th of August 2021, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, where Fr. Peter Damian Marie Harris,
O.P., of Holy Rosary Catholic Church is to officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.
The Rite of Committal and Interment will be private for family at Houston National Cemetery.
Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are: Lou Auricchio, Chip Fowler, L.W. Hall, Tom Huitt, David Shannon, Michael Stephens, Lee Stone and Griff Temple.
Please visit Mr. Mancuso’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.