Gerard Vincent Pinto

Gerard Vincent Pinto, 94, of Cape Carteret, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, July 7th, 2025. Gerard, also known as Jerry by all who knew him, was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Originally, from Trenton, New Jersey, he was born on March 22, 1931, to the late Warren Pinto and Marie (Grosso) Pinto. He was the devoted husband of nearly 69 years to Claramae A. Pinto.

Jerry committed his life to the service of community through the founding in 1974 of Lakeland Andover School, a not-for-profit private school for 6th-12th grade students, providing a compassionate and comprehensive learning environment to facilitate the highest level of success in students diagnosed with many different classifications. Originally started in Chester, New Jersey and eventually moving to Lafayette, New Jersey, the school was under his direction for over 45 years, graduating over 450 students. The school is currently functioning in Newton, New Jersey under the direction of Gary DeFoe.

He was deeply committed to his family and is survived by his wife Claramae Pinto, his 5 children Steven, Leslie (Mike), Jason (Anne), Evan, and Mollie, eleven grandchildren Michael (Nadia), Derek, Lauren, Garrison Kieselowsky, Quinn Kieselowsky, John, Will, Katie, Margaret, Max Buglisi, Izabel Buglisi, and great-grandchild Zara, along with many, many cherished nieces, nephews, friends, students, and associates. He was predeceased by his parents and his devoted sisters Theresa DiColo and Madelyn Pulcini.

Jerry was a veteran of the Navy in the Korean War, a graduate of Juniata College, and a graduate of Columbia University, having studied social psychology. He was also a longtime and very active member of the Chester, New Jersey Lion’s Club.

He loved reading – his “New Yorker” magazines especially - sports, theater, beach trips, spending time with his family, an ice-cold root beer, and art – to the point of painting portraits of so many family, friends, and caregivers. Always the role of an advisor to his many, many students, as well as his children and even those who were acquaintances, he believed in the power of conversation to find what each of us had a calling to do, and to find that joy in being present each, and every day. He shared his expressions for guidance in life which we often repeated over the years, such as “Be nice to someone you don’t like”, and “Keep smiling…you are doing a good job”. Ultimately, he believed so much in community involvement, including encouraging all he met to engage in Community Theater.

While a small service was held in North Carolina at Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC, there will also be a service planned to occur in New Jersey at a location later to be announced. A Facebook page to commemorate Jerry is in progress (see link below) and will have all the details on when and where the Celebration of Life will take place in New Jersey.

The family would like to thank Jessica Perez for all her attention and excellent care shown to Jerry over the past years. It is so greatly appreciated. Her compassionate care, and good-natured banter with Jerry was infectious to all those around, inviting others to join in the laughter.

The link to the Facebook page is here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/16VmsURiZB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net